Dominic LeBlanc

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.