Parliamentary Speeches
1,397 speeches by François-Philippe Champagne — Page 5 of 28
Government Orders
Mr. Chair, my colleague is so right. We want to do more transformation, and I think she will be happy with team Canada strong. The fact is that we say we are going to train and help 80,000 to 100,000 young people with their Red Seal and to get into the trades, because if we want to build this country, we need young people. We need young people to get into the trades. This is going to help provide …
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I am bound by the rules of the House, and the Chair is asking me to respond. Mr. Chair, I got maybe the beginning of the question, and I would say that people are seeing the investment fund in Canada as best in class in the world. I would think the Canada Strong fund that—
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Mr. Chair, I think the question was around the auto strategy. Since I was the industry minister at the time, yes, I think the investments we have made and the attraction of investment was the right thing. I believe that electrification is our north star. I am mindful that there have been delays in some plants and some adoption. This is not unique to Canada. We have seen that in a number of G7 coun…
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Mr. Chair, as the member will have seen, we have been supporting the industry. We have been making sure that we can attract investments and that we understand the reality of the world today. When it comes to electric vehicles, there have been delays in adoption, and we need to adopt policies that would favour investment in the auto sector to support our workers and the industry. That is what we ar…
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Mr. Chair, Canada is one of the very few countries in the G7 that still has a very strong auto sector. That is why my colleague will be happy to see that we have supported workers, we have worked with Unifor and we have worked with unions to make sure that we position the auto industry for success.
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Mr. Chair, as I have said, what we have been doing in terms of investment, and we can think about the Volkswagen investment, is to prepare the country to make sure that we will have an industry that can support a different kind of technology, whether we are talking about an internal combustion—
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Mr. Chair, the member may not like my answers. I know that the Conservatives are allergic to good news, but I am an experienced member of the House and will continue to answer and to provide the facts to Canadians who are watching at home. What I was saying is that we have made sure that the industry could succeed. Whether we are talking about internal combustion engines or whether we are talking …
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Mr. Chair, I am talking about the facts. I am just trying to help the member understand the nature of the industry in Canada, and I will continue to do so because people at home understand that we have different investments in the country. We have been able to attract significant investment. What I said is that we are supporting the industry with respect to internal combustion engines, but at the …
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Mr. Chair, what I am saying is that we need to prepare for the cars of the future. In fact, it is nothing surprising that when the same thing has been done for 100 years and the technology is changed, there is a longer time of adoption. I will just remind my colleague that Tesla took 17 years to be profitable. The Model T of Henry Ford was not an instant success. It is normal that when we do the s…
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Mr. Chair, that is what I said; just look at the record. We need to invest in different technology for now. The north star is the long-term view. That is why we have these investments that prepare us. We need to support the industry with the cars we make today, but also prepare for the future. That is what we see. If we look at the automakers, they have—
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Mr. Chair, let me just correct the record of what I said before, because there were statements made that did not reflect it. What I said is that we are investing in supporting the industry. We need to support the industry with the cars they are making today, but at the same time, if we talk to the OEMs, the car manufacturers, they are also preparing for the cars of the future. Therefore, we want t…
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Mr. Chair, we were supporting the auto industry when I was industry minister, and we continue to do that today. We want to position Canadian auto workers for success; they understand that. We have been working with unions very closely. We have been attracting investment like Volkswagen in St. Thomas, which, as I said, is going to build—
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Mr. Chair, my colleague is a very experienced member of the House. He will have seen that in all G7 countries, and I have just come from the G7, these plans have been delayed. What we are saying about the north star is that we need to invest in what they make today, but also prepare for the future.
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Mr. Chair, I am happy to repeat what I just said, but I know my colleague understood. He is looking for some kind of clip, but he is not going to get it. What I can say tonight is that we want to invest in the vehicles that are—
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Mr. Chair, I am sure my colleague will have seen our auto strategy, which has been presented. We have worked with unions and with the Province of Ontario, among others, to make sure that we will have a resilient auto sector in Canada. I would say that I am proud of the auto workers. I am proud of our industry. I am proud of what they do. Instead of talking down the industry, I think my colleagues …
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Mr. Chair, I am happy that my colleague is focusing on the Canadian sovereign wealth fund that we are creating. This is going to be a great instrument to create collective wealth. It is going to be applying the best practices that we see around the world. The governance model will reflect its independence from the government.
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Mr. Chair, we should always be concerned about youth unemployment on both sides of the aisle, obviously, as Canadians. That is why team Canada strong would provide opportunities for 80,000 to 100,000 young Canadians to get into the trades and get their Red Seal certification so that they can contribute to building the country at this—
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Mr. Chair, what we are seeing in terms of youth unemployment in Canada is not unique to Canada. We see this in other G7 countries. What we are seeing is that the impact of what we are facing in the world in terms of uncertainty has affected a number of industries and has affected youth unemployment in particular. That is why I think we should be happy that we have team Canada strong. We are going …
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Mr. Chair, I want to thank my colleague for focusing on youth unemployment. It is something that every member of the House should be focusing on. That is why the government has taken action. Team Canada strong is going to provide the opportunity and possibility for 80,000 to 100,000 young Canadians to get into the trades. We want them to help us build Canada strong. We want them to help us build t…
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Mr. Chair, it is unfair to say I have not answered questions. I have been answering questions for more than three hours. I am not sure that any member on that side has answered questions for more than three hours in their lives. They say that I have not answered questions, but they have not answered questions for three hours in their lives. I agree with the member that we need to focus on reducing…
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Mr. Chair, I think immigration in this country has allowed the country to attract some of the best and brightest. This is who we are as Canadians. We are a welcoming nation. I also agree that we need to bring the immigration level to a more sustainable level. That is exactly what we have done as a government.
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Mr. Chair, let me take a moment to thank the member for Kings—Hants. Everyone in Nova Scotia should know that this member in particular has played a key role in helping us shape our policy. He embodies the best of the best. Like my colleagues here tonight, they are MPs. They are standing up for their communities. It is fairly late for those who are watching at home. We are getting close to 11 p.m.…
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Mr. Chair, before I do that, I want to thank the staff of the House of Commons. I see these young pages and the staff at the table working hard. I know it is getting late, and I just want to give kudos on behalf of all parliamentarians for the work they are doing on behalf of all of us and to support democracy. To every employee in the House, the security folks and everyone who is working extra la…
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Mr. Chair, the member brought me to a number of wineries and a number of food producers. Together, we had round tables. I also think of my colleague who is a farmer who I see in the House tonight. These farmers need to be celebrated. They put food on the table. That is why the national food security strategy is so important, and that is why supporting our farmers is so important. The member went b…
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Mr. Chair, it is amazing. We are getting to 11 p.m. and the questions are getting better and better. It is great. I will not say they are coming from this side of the House, but I want to celebrate the member for Peterborough to start with. She is an amazing colleague, but also a great farmer. I want to thank her. Being members of Parliament, bringing our expertise and our experience to the House …
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As I said, Mr. Chair, the questions are getting better and better. I think we will ask if we should extend a bit now because we are getting into the real issues. I want to thank the member for Waterloo, who hosted me recently. We have seen so much innovation in that region. Mr. Chair, I know you do not have the time to travel with me everywhere I go in the country, but you should come once to Wate…
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Mr. Chair, I am going to turn my back just for a second to say that the member for South Shore—St. Margarets came to my office to advocate for small craft harbours. She was there. She put her fist on the table. She said that I needed to listen and that we are going to do something. We did—
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Mr. Speaker, I am surprised by the words used by the member, for whom I have enormous respect. I think he should listen to Canadians. In Bill C-30, we see important measures. Outside this chamber, the one thing Canadians talk to us about is affordability. Affordability is top of mind for Canadians when it comes to the price of homes, gas and food. Bill C-30 would implement the very important measu…
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Mr. Speaker, I am sure the cameras are on and I am quite happy to speak to Canadians. I will go to other measures that I think the Conservatives should support. Division 4 of part 3 would amend the Employment Insurance Act and extend, until October 7, 2028, the duration of the measure that increases the maximum number of weeks for which benefits may be paid in a benefit period to certain seasonal …
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague, who is someone I hold in very high regard. I think that the people watching at home understand the circumstances we find ourselves in. I just got back from meetings with my G7 colleagues. The world is changing. We have to take concrete measures. The issue of affordability, for example, is very real for all Canadians across the country. Bill C‑30 would allow us to…
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Mr. Speaker, I am quite happy to talk about the deficit. In fact, the projected deficit for 2025-26 is actually $11 billion lower than what was projected, and this is because of the resiliency of the Canadian economy and the resiliency of Canadian workers. Even international agencies have said that Canada has the strongest fiscal position in the G7. I know the Conservatives do not want to hear tha…
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Mr. Speaker, indeed, this bill, Bill C-30, would be helping Canadians with affordability. We all know this is top of mind for Canadians, wherever we go in the country. Let me point out other good things that are in Bill C-30. It would modify the labour mobility deduction for eligible tradespeople by increasing the annual limit on expenses that can be deducted. It would make permanent the capital g…
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Mr. Speaker, I have enormous respect for my colleague, and I always listen to her comments. In fact, what we are doing this morning would allow the committee to study the measures in the bill. The member will find that there are a number of measures there, for example with respect to seasonal workers and affordability. I know she would support them, because she is a member who has always supported…
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Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the question from my colleague, for whom I have a great deal of respect. The primary responsibility of each and every one of us is, of course, to be a parliamentarian. It is to be a member of Parliament, to sit in this chamber and debate bills. That is what I have always done. Tomorrow, I will even be appearing before a House committee for four hours to answer questions f…
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Mr. Speaker, in fact, we are listening to Canadians. I know the member quite well. I am sure he would be happy to report to his constituents that, when he is going to vote, there will be an additional two-year extension of the 2% cap on the annual alcohol excise duty inflation. He will go around and talk about the fact that he has been supporting the government, because this is something that cons…
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Mr. Speaker, I think that seasonal workers will be pleased. They will be surprised to hear what my colleague said. I have a great deal of respect for her, I know her well and she does extraordinary work. However, what I can say is that when we talk about seasonal workers, I think that all of my colleagues here are in favour of the measures we are offering in Bill C-30. Those workers need these mea…
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Mr. Speaker, that is an excellent question. It is an important one because what we are saying is that we are making generational investments in infrastructure, housing, competitiveness, innovation and defence. It is true that we are going to need these young workers to build the country together. That is why we included exceptional, even generational, measures in the spring economic statement to p…
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Mr. Speaker, serving Canadians is in fact acting on behalf of Canadians. The thing that Canadians care about is affordability. The member should be standing in this House and saying, “Yes, I will support the government.” Why? There are measures that support Canadians on affordability, important measures around the gas tax and the suspension we announced. The member should be standing here and sayi…
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Mr. Speaker, we all know that one of the pillars of affordability is, indeed, affordable housing. That is why we announced extraordinary measures to ramp up construction, increase innovation and help people find affordable housing. It is because we are very aware that this is one of the pillars of affordability. Affordability is at the heart of Bill C‑30. I therefore expect my Bloc Québécois colle…
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Mr. Speaker, I have answered it a number of times. The Conservatives may not like my answer, but that is different. They may want to change the question. What I can say is, yes, we will debate it. Yes, we will be here to answer questions. Yes, we believe in accountability, but we believe in action as well. Canadians demand action from their government. They demand action from Parliament. They dema…
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Mr. Speaker, I know that member well. He is a member of Parliament who likes to debate and do his part. He will have the opportunity to do so because this bill will be reviewed in committee. I know that my colleague excels at presenting his point of view in committee. I think that today, he should stand up and say that he is willing to work, that he wants the bill to be referred to committee and t…
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Mr. Speaker, that is a very important question. In fact, we are going to make the capital gains tax exemption permanent when it comes to employee ownership trust. This is a measure that is being applauded by a number of people across the country. It is the kind of thing we see in Bill C-30. It is why, in the questions from opposition members, apart from the parliamentary opposition that we would e…
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Mr. Speaker, one thing I will not take is lessons from the Conservatives on the work we are doing with respect to the auto sector. If the member goes to her constituents, she will see that, as the former industry minister, I always stood up, and the current government has always stood up, for the auto workers and the auto industry. We will always continue to do so. In fact, we have already put mea…
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Mr. Speaker, we have made some of the largest investments in science and research. Canada is a world leader. Take artificial intelligence, for example. Since I was asked the question by a Bloc Québécois member, I would like to point out that Montreal, along with other cities in Canada, is recognized as a global hub for AI. This did not happen by chance. It happened because we have the ability to a…
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Mr. Speaker, like my colleague, I also want to wish Bob Fife a happy retirement. I had the chance to send him a note. He has done a great service to journalism in Canada and to our democracy, and we applaud his work. When it comes to transparency, the member should be happy that the bill is going to go to committee. I am sure he will take all the time he needs in committee to make sure his voice c…
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Mr. Speaker, I am sure the Leader of the Opposition understands that we are currently facing a global energy crisis. We know that Canadians' top priority is affordability, meaning the cost of housing, food and gas. The good news is that this is exactly what we have taken action on. We have suspended the federal excise tax on fuel, lowering the cost of gas for Canadians by 10¢. We on this side are …
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Mr. Speaker, the executive director of the International Energy Agency has said that we are currently facing the largest energy crisis in history. That is why we took action. We did not wait. In other words, we suspended the federal fuel tax. That is because we are acutely aware that we need to give Canadians a helping hand as the summer season approaches. We will always be there to stand up for t…
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Mr. Speaker, we will take no lessons from the Conservatives. Members can take my word on that. At every step of the way, when we put measures around affordability, they voted against them. They should be ashamed. At a time when Canadians are asking us to act on the cost of living, that is exactly what we have done. We are building more affordable houses, we have taken measures on affordability for…
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Mr. Speaker, allow me to help out the opposition leader. There is something called a conflict going on in the Strait of Hormuz right now. The level of uncertainty is indeed unprecedented. Fatih Birol, the executive director of the International Energy Agency, said that this is the largest energy crisis we have ever faced. Here we have the Leader of the Opposition pointing the finger at the governm…
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Mr. Speaker, exactly, we did the right thing. As the International Monetary Fund has noted, we introduced a targeted, temporary measure to help Canadians. On our side of the House, we are prepared to do what is necessary. The federal government did the right thing by suspending the federal excise tax on fuel. We were there for Canadians. We will continue to be there, and we will continue to suppor…
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