Parliamentary Speeches

Mr. Speaker, we know that the Bloc Québécois leader likes to exaggerate, but he is really outdoing himself today. He knows full well that the government was elected by Canadians, including many members from Quebec, specifically to build a more resilient economy, to diversify trade in response to an unreliable trading partner, and to build in a responsible way, which is exactly what we are doing. I think he should stick to the facts and not just repeat things that he knows are untrue.

Mr. Speaker, it is quite the opposite. We are working with Quebeckers. We are working with businesses and workers' representatives in Quebec to build a stronger economy, protect their jobs from the unjustified American tariffs and help Quebeckers and all Canadians diversify their trade. We are doing it at the Port of Montreal and at Contrecoeur, we are doing it on the west coast of Canada, we are doing it with renewable energy projects, and we will stay the course.

Mr. Speaker, I thank our colleague from Sudbury for her question. Yesterday, we introduced a bill to build Canada strong, the most ambitious reform in a generation, to strengthen and accelerate our capacity to get projects done right, strengthen our transportation networks and diversify our trade partners. Our colleague from Sudbury knows full well that we have a well-trained workforce. Her region has the critical minerals that the world needs. We are going to develop them responsibly and put Canadians to work.

Mr. Speaker, our government spent many weeks this summer pursuing in good faith an agreement with the United States that would have strengthened the Canadian economy and ensured Canadian sovereignty on issues as important as cultural industries and our ability to sign free trade agreements with reliable partners. At the end of the day, the Prime Minister concluded that the agreement was not possible; it was not on the table. Canada did what Canadians expected us to do: stand up for our sovereignty, stand up for our industries and stand up for our workers. I am surprised the hon. member is not supporting our government's effort to support Canadian workers.

Mr. Speaker, perhaps what our colleague fails to realize is that countertariffs are also essential to protect Canadian workers and Canadian businesses that are facing, from the United States, tariffs that are unjustified, illegal and not in compliance with CUSMA. Our colleague pretends what? Is it that we should not have taken measures to support Canadian industries and Canadian workers? Countertariffs are part of the measures that our government is implementing, and we are also going to support businesses and workers to get through this circumstance, as any responsible government should.

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, we worked with businesses in Quebec. We were constantly working with union representatives from Quebec, with the Government of Quebec. We worked with business people from across the country because we wanted an agreement that is in Canada's best economic interest, to strengthen Canada's economic and cultural sovereignty. We know that the Conservatives would have taken any old deal. Now we see that they do not want to fight for our workers, that they do not want to defend the Canadian industries that are under attack. We do, however, and that is exactly what we are going to do.

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, we are deeply involved at every level with Canadian companies, with representatives of Canadian workers, and with our colleagues in the provinces and territories. We hold regular, weekly consultations and round tables with various sectors of the economy. We will be holding them next week. We held them this week. We held them last week. We are very involved and very active because it is important for us to listen closely to the very people our colleague is talking about.

Mr. Speaker, as my colleague just said, we are facing a tariff situation that is unfair and unjustified in light of our free trade agreement with the United States. We have another opportunity this week to discuss this agreement with U.S. representatives. However, at the same time, we are not sitting idly by. We are protecting Canadian workers, we are protecting Canadian industries and we are working with the provinces to ensure that we can support these industries in a positive way. In the meantime, we are building Canada.

Mr. Speaker, as my colleagues clearly explained, our government is working to protect the industries and workers who are facing unjustified tariffs from the United States. We are, of course, doing this with our partners in the provinces and territories. In last year's election, Canadians gave us a mandate to build a more resilient economy and to pursue major projects for Canada's economic future. That is exactly what we are doing across the country. Canadians are proud of the Prime Minister's work.

Mr. Speaker, every parliamentarian can help the government and Canadians support industries and workers and come together to counter the tariffs imposed by the U.S. government. We are always looking for positive contributions from members of Parliament across the House of Commons and at the other place. We are always happy to work with the member who asked this question, as well as with all of his colleagues in the opposition, because we are here to support Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, our colleague from the Bloc Québécois talks about respect for democracy. We in the government will start by waiting for Quebeckers to have their say in the upcoming provincial election this fall. We understand that the members of the Bloc Québécois are engaging in hypotheticals. They are eagerly awaiting the upcoming provincial election. We are not going to judge these issues. We will continue to focus on issues that affect Quebec families, Quebec workers, and workers across Canada. The American tariff threat and how to support our industries are what we are working on.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Beauport—Limoilou for his important work on this critical issue. As everyone knows, the government is committed to continuing to negotiate with our American and Mexican partners as we head into the CUSMA review. That is why we are meeting with industry leaders and provincial and territorial representatives, as my colleague did in his riding. We want to be ready for the upcoming review and ensure that we reach an agreement that is in the best interests of Canadians and Canadian workers.

Mr. Speaker, perhaps I can help the leader of the Bloc Québécois. I think I know what question he was going to ask. The answer is the same as it was earlier this week. I realize that the Bloc Québécois members are experts at picking fights, sowing division and creating controversy where none exists. As my colleagues just said, we are fundamentally focused on issues that matter to Quebeckers and all Canadians. We are trying to work with the Quebec government, as well as with businesses and workers in Quebec and across Canada. That remains our priority, and things are going well.

Mr. Speaker, we understand that the Bloc Québécois is once again trying to create division and controversy where there is none. As the leader of the Bloc Québécois is well aware, we are working with our Bloc colleagues and with all MPs to find ways to address the U.S. tariff threat and support the businesses and workers across Canada that are dealing with completely unjustified tariff threats. We will continue to do this work and I would like the Bloc Québécois to work with us on these issues that are important to Quebec.

Mr. Speaker, what the government understands very well is that, now more than ever, this is the time to work together to counter the U.S. tariff threat in an increasing complex world. That is precisely what the Prime Minister is doing with the Government of Alberta. We are working with Albertans. We are working with all the provinces of Canada to prove that our federation is working well and that we all share Canadians' concerns. It is a shame that the Bloc Québécois is not participating.

Mr. Speaker, I have been clear about what we are going to do. We will work with our friends in the federation, with the Government of Quebec, the Government of Alberta and the governments of all of the other provinces and territories to address the issues that matter to Canadians across the country. Our focus is squarely on economic issues. For example, I met with the provincial and territorial industry and trade ministers this morning. Minister Drainville actively participated in the discussion on what we can do to counter the U.S. tariff threat. That is the work that we are doing together.

Mr. Speaker, perhaps my colleague was not entirely focused on the answers I gave his colleague earlier. The federal government is absolutely focused on the issues that concern Quebeckers and all Canadians. We are ready to work with our provincial counterparts to counter the U.S. tariff threat and support the industries specifically affected by these tariffs. We are here and we are doing the work. It is a shame that the Bloc Québécois is not showing up.

Mr. Speaker, as my colleague the Minister of Industry clearly indicated, today we announced additional measures to support these businesses that are facing unjustified tariffs from the Americans. I, too, have met with many of these businesses, as has my colleague, of course. Our ministers and our members of Parliament are very much aware of these challenges. That is precisely why we have supported these industries and that is precisely why we are here to do more if necessary.

Mr. Speaker, we certainly appreciate our colleague's enthusiasm about the upcoming spring economic update. She paints a picture that is negative and inaccurate. The good news is that in less than an hour, she will be enlightened by the good economic news, the effective spending controls our government has brought in and the investments we are making to build a truly competitive national economy, diversify our trading partners and build big once again. Good news is on the way.

Mr. Speaker, again, we are very pleased that our colleague is able to use the same tired lines that they have been using for months and months. It is great to hear the eight-track, but good news is on the way. In less than an hour, my colleague, the finance minister, will share this good economic news. Perhaps our colleague will be disappointed that the tired talking points she has been using for the last number of months suddenly will no longer be relevant. She can celebrate the great economic performance of Canadians and of Canada.

Mr. Speaker, our colleague properly raises the issues of affordability and the cost of living. It is something that I know every member of the House is concerned about, because Canadians are concerned about it. Again, in less than an hour, my colleague, the finance minister, will be in the House, talking about the important measures that our government has taken, will take and will continue to take to support Canadians in the very real concerns around the cost of groceries, the cost of fuel and the cost of living. Our government is there for Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, I was very enthusiastic a few moments ago and I said that the Minister of Finance and National Revenue would be here in under an hour. I misspoke. It is in less than two hours that my colleague will have all the facts. He will not need to make up numbers. He will not need to repeat things that he knows very well are not solid. There will be good news for the Canadian economy, for workers and for seniors, instead of the baseless accusations the Conservatives make in the House all the time.

Mr. Speaker, I have two things to point out to our colleague. He knows full well that in our discussions with the Americans, we are not going to discuss the cultural exemption and we are not going to negotiate on this matter. It will not be on the table and it is not on the table. He knows full well that there is no chance of this kind of discussion taking place at the negotiating table with the Americans. Personally, I am very proud of the Quebeckers and other Canadians who have agreed to serve on our advisory committee on a volunteer basis. There are people from the cultural sector, and there are plenty of people from Quebec. I am really looking forward to working with them.

Mr. Speaker, our colleague knows very well that we have been engaged with the Americans on a whole series of issues, including the unfair and unjustified section 232 tariffs, which are doing considerable damage to the economy of the United States and causing challenges for Canadian workers and Canadian businesses. The good news is, unlike the Conservatives, we are prepared to support Canadian workers and Canadian businesses while we stand firm with the United States and, unlike the advice of the Leader of the Opposition, we are not prepared to sign any deal that is not in the interest of Canada.

Mr. Speaker, it will not surprise anyone that the premise of the question, that Canada is not actively engaged with the United States or at a negotiating table, is not accurate. I have had a number of conversations, on a weekly basis, with senior members of the American administration. The Prime Minister is also communicating directly with President Trump. Our chief negotiator Madam Charette and Ambassador Wiseman are also having conversations. We are doing the important work that Canadians expect us to do, but we are also focusing on what we can control here at home.

Mr. Speaker, the question gives me an opportunity to share the good news with all members of this House that this morning, the Prime Minister announced an important advisory council of women and men who represent businesses. There are elected union leaders and community leaders. In fact, there is the former leader of the Conservative Party, the former premier of Quebec, the former premier of Nunavut and a former minister of public safety in this House. Business leaders, union leaders and representatives of associations are working with this government to make sure we have a deal for Canadian workers.

Mr. Speaker, of course we are working with our Mexican counterparts as we do the work necessary to prepare for the CUSMA review. I am in regular contact with Secretary of Economy Ebrard. The Prime Minister, of course, talks to President Sheinbaum. The good news is Secretary Ebrard will be in Canada with an important delegation of Mexican business leaders, a return of the successful visit we did. We will continue those conversations with the Mexicans and the Americans to ensure that we get the best deal for Canadian workers and Canadian businesses.

Mr. Speaker, our colleague knows full well that we currently have a better agreement with the U.S. than any other trading partner does. However, we also recognize that the unjustified tariffs being applied around the world, as the Prime Minister said in his initial responses, deserve a response from the Government of Canada together with our friends in the provinces and territories to support workers and industries. I am surprised that our colleague from the Conservative Party does not think we should be there for Canadian workers.

Mr. Speaker, I did not hear a question in my colleague's comments, so I will take this opportunity to remind the House of the good news that the Prime Minister announced this morning. We set up a new advisory committee with labour representatives like Ms. Picard from the Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec, the president of Agropur and the president of Domtar, a major forestry company. These are all business people from Quebec. There is also Mr. Simard from the aluminum industry. We have people across Canada who want to work with our government because we are there for our industries.

Mr. Speaker, that is exactly what our government is doing. We are creating economic benefits for Canadians across the country. I thank my colleague for supporting Bill C-5 to once again build major projects in Canada. His province is home to some of the best examples of these projects in the country. Take, for example, Nouveau Monde Graphite, a major mine that is currently under development, or the start of construction at the Port of Montreal at Contrecoeur that was announced a week ago. Those projects are good news, and there is more to come.

Mr. Speaker, our colleague is wondering what we are doing to improve the situation. That is precisely what the Prime Minister has been working on since we won the election. It is about diversifying our markets with other reliable trade partners, once again undertaking major projects that are in Canada's national interest, and supporting industries and workers who are dealing with the unjustified and illegal U.S. tariffs. I have good news. We are doing all three at the same time.

Mr. Speaker, with all due respect to our colleague, the Prime Minister said that “nostalgia is not a strategy”. He is absolutely right. The good news is that we have seen changes in international relations with the Americans. As I said a few moments ago, we are diversifying our markets with other reliable economic partners and building projects of national interest. We also recognize the importance of supporting our steel and aluminum workers and their industries, and we are doing exactly that at the same time.

Mr. Speaker, it will come as no surprise to anyone that I do not entirely agree with the premise of our colleague's question. He mentioned Jean Charest, a person of whom we are very fond. I spoke with him last week for about and hour and a half, and I intend to meet with him again later this week. My colleague mentioned the Fédération des chambres de commerce du Québec. It so happens that the federation's president, Véronique Proulx, was in Ottawa today. I had very good conversation with her about the matters that the member just raised, so I thank him for the question.

Mr. Speaker, we are just as concerned as every other member of the House. Recently, two weeks ago, the U.S. Department of Commerce made changes to apply some completely unjustified tariffs on the total value of certain products rather than on the value of the steel or aluminum they contain. We are aware of the impact of this on certain Canadian industries. My colleague, the Minister of Industry, is working hard on this issue. I, along with other colleagues, have raised the matter with the U.S. government. We are working as fast as possible to find a solution.

Mr. Speaker, once again, we share the concerns my colleague raised. This is a concern in her province of Quebec, but also elsewhere in Canada. In my home province of New Brunswick, I have spoken to businesses that are also facing difficult times. That is precisely why my colleague raised the importance of supporting SMEs and helping workers and businesses deal with these unjustified tariffs. That is exactly what our government is doing. At the same time, we are moving forward in our negotiations with the Americans to make them understand that this is not in their economic interest.

Mr. Speaker, it will come as no surprise that I do not share the pessimism of our colleague opposite. As for the Government of Canada's obligation to support all regions of Canada, all industries and all workers, that is precisely what we are doing. I understand the issues facing the member's province. As I said, the situation is the same in many other provinces. We make no distinction when it comes to the importance of defending Canadian industries across the country. That is what we are doing, and we will continue to do so.

Mr. Speaker, we agree with our opposition colleague that it is important to build a strong economy in Canada. The good news is that the Conservative Party helped adopt Bill C-5, which, in fact, enabled the government to accelerate the construction of major projects, including major energy infrastructure projects like the ones our colleague just mentioned. I was in Contrecœur, near Montreal. Other ports are in the works. There is good news coming in the next few weeks and I look forward to having our colleague's support.

Mr. Speaker, at the risk of echoing our colleague the Minister of Finance and National Revenue, I must say that we have good news for the hon. member. This week, the Prime Minister was in India, where we signed an agreement worth over $2.5 billion for energy exports. We worked with the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador to approve the Bay du Nord project off the coast of that province. We also approved NexGen's uranium mine in Saskatchewan. We are getting work done while the Conservatives are busy criticizing.

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank our colleague for his consistent work in terms of removing barriers to interprovincial trade. As he knows very well, the federal government removed all our exemptions to free trade in Canada by legislation supported by the Conservatives in June. I know he has been, and he should be, as pleased as we are that the governments of Ontario and of Nova Scotia recently signed an agreement to allow direct-to-consumer sale of alcohol. I am meeting interprovincial trade ministers later this month, and we will absolutely go further.

Again, Mr. Speaker, our colleague has highlighted consistently one of the important challenges in having free trade across Canada. As he well knows, the regulation of the sale of alcohol is within the hands of provincial and territorial governments. However, his idea of changing section 19 of the Canada Post Corporation Act to incentivize provinces to allow it and to co-operate with the Government of Canada is a good one. I will happily raise it with provincial ministers later this month, and I look forward to working with him on this important issue.

Again, Mr. Speaker, I indicated to our colleague that we have called an urgent meeting of interprovincial trade ministers following the Prime Minister's meeting with first ministers at the end of January. That is happening in a few weeks. We are going to seek to make progress in collaboration with provinces. I would ask our colleague to note that it was Ontario and Nova Scotia, two champions for the removal of interprovincial trade barriers, that signed an agreement to allow direct-to-consumer sales of alcohol. I will happily raise it with provincial ministers and do what is necessary for the Government of Canada to be a partner.

Mr. Speaker, our colleague would remember very well the votes that happened at the end of June when we passed Bill C-5, which removed all federal barriers to interprovincial trade in Canada. He is highlighting something with which we agree: the important GDP boost of removing all these barriers. The vast majority of these barriers have always been in the hands of provinces and territories. We thought it was important for the Government of Canada to eliminate our exceptions to free trade in Canada. We did that, and now we are going to work with the provinces to get the job done.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of Canada is focusing on what we can control: building here at home, working with allies and buying what is needed. Canada's new defence industrial strategy consists of a $500-billion investment in Canadian industry, security and prosperity. This is just as much an employment strategy as it is a defence strategy. It represents 125,000 new careers and strengthened supply chains. In Canada, that is how we stand strong.

Mr. Speaker, as our colleague correctly pointed out, the government is committed to expanding its partnerships around the world, particularly in the Indo-Pacific region. Canada and Taiwan enjoy strong economic ties and a close relationship. While remaining consistent with our long-standing one China policy, we will continue to advance Canada's interests by diversifying our trade and strengthening our relationships with reliable partners around the world.

Mr. Speaker, we are obviously very pleased with our colleague's offer to work with the government to improve Canada's economy, to ensure that we are a country that attracts historic investments from abroad and from within Canada in order to build a stronger, more resilient economy and to create jobs in all trades across Canada. I look forward to working with our hon. colleague and urge him to support the budget implementation act. That is the plan he just described.

Mr. Speaker, perhaps I will be allowed to add my voice to other colleagues and say how happy I am to see former prime minister Stephen Harper in Ottawa today. I had the privilege of serving in the House when Mr. Harper was Prime Minister of Canada for nine years, and it is a privilege to see him in good health and smiling in Ottawa today. With respect to supporting the auto industry, I also remember, as an opposition MP, even in the far corner over there in the third party, Mr. Harper and his ministers supporting the auto industry at an important moment in our history, and that is exactly what our government will continue to do, as the former prime minister did in those years as well.

Mr. Speaker, our colleague knows very well that the government was elected to build a Canadian economy that is more resilient, and the government was elected to get major projects done. That is exactly what the Prime Minister and my colleagues have done. Maybe the member missed the announcement with the Premier of Ontario on important investments, for example, in nuclear energy in Darlington. Perhaps she does not understand that we are investing in port infrastructure as important as Contrecoeur or Prince Rupert. There is good news coming in the next number of weeks, and I know the member will celebrate with us.

Mr. Speaker, I am glad our colleague referenced the important report from the International Monetary Fund, which confirms exactly what the Prime Minister and the government have been saying for many months: Working with provinces to remove interprovincial trade barriers is one of the most significant things we can do to grow the Canadian economy, so I want to thank the Conservatives for having supported in June legislation that removed every federal barrier to internal trade in Canada. I have good news: We are meeting the premiers in Ottawa on Thursday to discuss more of what we can do to grow the economy.

Mr. Speaker, I want to begin by wishing colleagues a happy new year, particularly our friend from Manitoba who just asked the question. I want to thank the Conservative Party for its support last June in passing federal legislation in the House that did exactly that. It eliminated all federal barriers to interprovincial trade. Now the challenge is to work with our partners in the provinces. The good news is that the Prime Minister will have the premiers for dinner in Ottawa on Wednesday and an all-day meeting on Thursday. We will be discussing exactly those issues of continuing to remove those barriers.

Mr. Speaker, our colleague is lucky. After four tries, his question was deemed in order. However, he is having some difficulty with the facts. He talks about people who are not in government and public policies that are not government policies. He knows full well that our government supports supply management and that we will not negotiate this issue with the Americans under any circumstances. Despite his efforts, his facts are still a little off.