Parliamentary Speeches

Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome everyone back to the House after the summer. I want to reply to the hon. member from Newfoundland and Labrador. We are moving forward with legislation across the entire sector, but it is very difficult to stand and push back when the Conservatives vote against every single measure the government brings forward. I am sorry, but there is a level of hypocrisy here that is very difficult to listen to.

Mr. Speaker, there is a series of things we are currently doing to improve the lives of Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and Canadians. Recently, we had the investment in Churchill Falls, a $70-billion investment, and $10 billion of that money is federal funds. This is transformative for our province. I want to remind the member of projects we can do locally. In my riding, in the last two weeks, I announced 114 deeply affordable housing units. The member is able to do this as well, but she has to put the work in.

Mr. Speaker, I welcome the member back after the summer and certainly look forward to working with him and the fisheries committee. I want to remind the member that we make decisions locally based on science, consultation with harvesters and economic opportunities. We make decisions in the international space with other departments that are part of broader negotiations. I was in Saint-Pierre and Miquelon this summer, and I met with harvesters. I spent three days in the community, and we have agreed to work collaboratively going forward.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to talk about the $8‑billion investment in 5 Wing Goose Bay in Labrador, in my province. I will also take the opportunity to talk about the almost $1 billion in small craft harbours and the funding available to help our young people train in Red Seal industries. We are building this country, we are investing in Canadians, and we are protecting Canadians. I invite the member to stop the nonsense and join us.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand here today and share with Canadians that 12 million Canadians will benefit from the groceries and essentials benefit. I am proud to talk about the benefits associated with $10‑a‑day child care, which allows families to be able to go into the workplace and know their kids are well cared for. I am proud to stand here and talk about the Canada child benefit. I am proud to stand here and talk about the benefits of the school nutrition program. I will talk about the housing initiative, affordable housing for people who need it the most, and on and on it goes. This is where—

Mr. Speaker, I want to remind my opposition colleague from Newfoundland and Labrador that employment numbers are up in our province. I also want to remind her once again of the almost $1 billion for small craft harbours, growing our rural, coastal and indigenous communities that support our fisheries, an essential part of rural Newfoundland and Labrador. There are also supports around housing, road construction, infrastructure, community centres, and on and on this goes. We are actually in a time of growth. I hope the member gets on board.

Mr. Speaker, I will once again remind the member opposite that when we get people to work, when we invest in our young Newfoundlanders and Labradorians and Canadians with programs like the apprenticeship program, which walks with them throughout the journey to a Red Seal designation, and when we have construction jobs, it enhances our economy and it raises our employment numbers, which we are now seeing. This is what it takes to build Canada strong. Empty slogans and negative responses are not helpful. I invite the member to work alongside us.

Mr. Speaker, I want to celebrate the apprenticeship program, a program that is focused on getting young people trained to Red Seal status, with support at every step along that process. We are building the economy with almost $1 billion for small craft harbours and support for our rural communities, as well as an economic boost for communities. That is what Canadians expect, and that is what we are delivering.

Mr. Speaker, I want to remind the member opposite from Newfoundland and Labrador that we are working closely with the Conservative provincial government to build the province together, with Bay du Nord and with $8 billion for 5 Wing Goose Bay to expand the capacity of the base, but also, the support goes out into the broader region. The work continues with housing initiatives. On and on it goes. There was an announcement today from the Finance Minister in Newfoundland and Labrador. That is what Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, and Canadians, expect us to do. That is what we are doing. We are laser focused, and we—

Mr. Speaker, while my colleague across the aisle once again gets up and reads the same notes, I want to remind her that in our province of Newfoundland and Labrador, announcements made by this government are resonating. There is almost $1 billion for small craft harbours. Not only does this support the fishing sector, but it also creates jobs. There was an announcement last week of $15 million, $5 million a year, for ghost gear retrieval. The call is out for communities in our province to also participate in this. These programs are building economies, getting people working and growing Canada strong.

Mr. Speaker, here we go again with the feigned indignation. In actual fact, in our province of Newfoundland and Labrador, the apprenticeship program is investing in young people with Red Seal certifications and getting them to work on projects like Bay du Nord. Again, there is almost $1 billion for small craft harbours and getting people to work in rural communities. Instead of reading tired notes, I encourage the member to actually speak to people in our province and find out how important these jobs are.

Mr. Speaker, I want to reassure the member that I meet regularly with harvesters on the wharves, as well as here in Ottawa and across the country. I also meet with ambassadors across this country to bring forward the need for our seafood to enter into markets. I have colleagues who are doing the same thing. I am going to ask the member if he is going to support small craft harbours, with almost $1 billion dollars in support for this industry. I will be watching how he votes.

Mr. Speaker, I want to remind the member opposite of the very good news from a week ago, almost $1 billion for small craft harbours. Let me also remind the member opposite that this is very important to her constituents, because they tell me how much it matters. I would advise the member to put down the notes she has been reading over and over, the same notes, and listen to her constituents. She will find that they support what we are doing on this side.

Mr. Speaker, I would advise the member opposite to read the spring economic update. In that update, she will find a list of supports that mean real support for Canadians, particularly in her riding: help for young people and apprentices, real dollars to help our young people get through programs, continued support for families and for seniors, and also continued support to help grow our rural communities. I would advise the member to read the document and to stop these nonsense notes.

Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Standing Order 32(2) and consistent with the policy on the tabling of treaties in Parliament, I have the honour to table, in both official languages, the treaty entitled “Agreement under the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea on the Conservation and Sustainable Use of Marine Biological Diversity of Areas beyond National Jurisdiction”, adopted at New York on June 19, 2023.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for her tireless advocacy for our harbours and fisheries. Small craft harbours are more than infrastructure. They are the foundation of our coastal communities, and they drive thousands of jobs in the fisheries and seafood sector. That is why, in our spring economic update, there is almost $1 billion in new investment to repair and strengthen vital harbours. We are investing in small craft harbours to invest in the people who rely on them.

Mr. Speaker, while the member opposite, the Conservative member from Newfoundland and Labrador, reads his prepared notes and likes his bit of theatre, the people of Newfoundland and Labrador are interested in the nearly $1-billion investment in small craft harbours. That is just the beginning. It is time the member listens to his constituents and puts the work first. The theatrics can come at the school play.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for his commitment to wild salmon. Wild Pacific salmon is a vital part of the economy of the west coast. I was in British Columbia recently to announce our government's new commitment of close to $143 million in funding for the Pacific salmon strategy initiative. This brings the federal commitment to wild Pacific salmon to over $1 billion to support science, restore habitat and modernize salmon fisheries. Together, we can rebuild wild salmon and build a stronger economy.

Mr. Speaker, I am proud to stand today and talk about what this government is doing for Canada and for Newfoundland and Labrador. Eight billion dollars are going to 5 Wing Goose Bay, and $12 million to Newfoundland and Labrador for companies that are invested in long-term defence capacity building and Bay du Nord. While the member reads her prepared notes, on this side of the House, we are doing the hard work.

Mr. Speaker, while this member from Newfoundland and Labrador continues to read the same tired notes, on this side of the House we are working to support rural communities with infrastructure available for roads, schools and hospitals. We are working to support families with the Canada child benefit, school nutrition programs, $10-a-day child care, and on and on the list goes. By the way, the Conservatives voted against all of it.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind the the opposition member from Newfoundland and Labrador that Bay du Nord is a way that we support Newfoundland and Labrador with jobs and money in the economy. That is $8 billion in 5 Wing Goose Bay and $12 million to support local companies. I also want to remind this member, who has fishing and harvesters in his riding, of the renewal of the Atlantic fisheries fund and Atlantic wild salmon fund. We are doing the work. We are not reading tired notes and we are not following poor politics.

Mr. Speaker, we debated the private member's bill and it was defeated for very good reasons. What I will remind this member from Newfoundland and Labrador is that we followed due diligence with an open consultation on what the recreational fishery needs to look like. A “what we heard” report will be coming out very shortly. We will follow with select consultations and then, based on what I have heard, I will put a plan together for this season. That is how we set policy that actually aligns with the needs of communities. Again, it is not just tired notes and rhetoric.

Mr. Speaker, Pacific salmon will remain a shared public resource managed by the federal government. There have been extensive public consultations on the policy, and working group tables continue and include representatives from sport and recreation, commercial harvesters and first nations. A revised salmon allocation policy will not take away any sector's access to the resource. To suggest otherwise is wrong, and it actually divides Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, clearly the opposition member did not hear me, so let me repeat that Pacific salmon will remain a shared public resource managed by the federal government. There have been extensive public consultations on the policy and working group tables continue. That includes representation from sport and recreational groups, first nations and the commercial sector. A revised salmon allocation policy will not take away anyone's access to the resource. To suggest otherwise is wrong and divides Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, the member opposite is incorrect. Let me repeat: Pacific salmon will remain a shared resource managed by the federal government. There have been extensive public consultations on the policy, and working group tables continue that include representations from the sport and recreational group, first nations and the commercial sector. A revised salmon allocation policy will not take away any sector's access to the resource, and to continue this argument is to continue to divide Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, my colleague from Newfoundland and Labrador is completely right. Our province was made for this moment. That is why I was proud last week to announce a federal investment of $16 million in Newfoundland and Labrador companies to build a stronger industrial base for defence manufacturing in our province. That means good jobs for Newfoundlanders and Labradorians to build more of what Canada needs at this time to stay strong, secure and sovereign.

Mr. Speaker, I ask that member to speak with the CEO of Equinor to know who made that project possible, and then I am going to say to her that I will never politicize the challenges that people have in our province and in this country in food security. That is why the programs that we have in place are so important: actual supports for families and seniors. I am happy to bring this member up to speed on the programs that exist, but do not politicize what is so important to people's lives.

Mr. Speaker, the member likes to stand in the House and talk about what she feels her constituents need, but she actually needs to talk to them and ask whether building houses matters in her riding, whether supports for rural communities matter in her riding, as well as $10-a-day child care and the school food program. I know these things matter too for the constituents in her riding, because they talk to me.

Mr. Speaker, I am going to remind the member from Newfoundland and Labrador that she needs to read budget 2025, because in that budget, she will notice that there are strong supports for youth across this country and within our province, opportunities for them to further their education. There are programs that build houses, affordable houses in communities, and that build this country through major projects that will see young people working. Home ownership will follow. The member needs to read the budget.

Mr. Speaker, I am going to remind the member opposite from Newfoundland and Labrador that voting against the bills that support Canadian workers, Canadian communities and the building of our country and our province of Newfoundland and Labrador is obstruction. If the member wants to see our province of Newfoundland and Labrador grow, I can tell her that we are ready, but that side of the House needs to work with us.

Mr. Speaker, let me remind the opposition member from Newfoundland and Labrador that the people in his riding reach out to me on a regular basis. They reach out to say, “Enough with the fear and enough with the obstruction. Let's work together.” Let me remind the member that there will be $50,000 in savings or direct payments to a family of four in affordability measures. This matters. I ask the Conservatives to please work with us to do what the people of this country and our province want done.

Mr. Speaker, it is another week of the same tired notes and the same rhetoric that is intended to be nothing but obstruction. I can tell the opposition member from Newfoundland and Labrador that I hear from her constituents regularly. They want us to continue to work on the supports that are important not just to my province of Newfoundland and Labrador but to the entire country, the true affordability measures and growth that will build this country and support workers. The Conservatives should stop the nonsense and let us get to work.

Mr. Speaker, that is an absolute example of political rhetoric. What will help families is when we support workers, when we build this country, and when we support rural communities and infrastructure. These are real supports. The $10-a-day child care allows women to get into the workforce. The child family benefit puts dollars in the pockets of parents. Let us stop the nonsense. People, Canadians including Newfoundlanders and Labradorians, want us to work for them. I ask the Conservatives to please stop this and to let us work together.

Mr. Speaker, here we go again with another round of canned notes that do not address what the government is actually doing. It is another example of obstruction. I have heard from the member's constituents. They support what the government is doing: building this country, investing in provinces and investing in rural communities, such as those the member represents. Let us stop the nonsense. Let us get to work. Canadians expect it, and Newfoundlanders and Labradorians expect it.