Joanne Thompson

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 can assure all members of this House that when I make decisions as the fisheries minister, they are always balanced, with information through the department and consultations with people in the communities. I am not going to comment on conspiracy theories, but I will say I am proud of the work we do in the department.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for the opportunity for me to once again say that I have met with stakeholders in B.C., across all perspectives. We are working on the decision. There is space for recreational fishing and commercial, and the need for indigenous harvesting. We will balance the decision.

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 share with everyone in the House and all Canadians listening some good news: almost $1 billion for small craft harbours. What this means for Canada's rural coastal indigenous communities is—

Mr. Speaker, these small craft harbours are the core of our rural coastal indigenous communities. That support is generational. I am also working with my colleagues across the country to ensure that for the fisheries fund, another critical source of support for harvesters in this country, the funding is out shortly.

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 have good news for that member. There is almost $1 billion for a small craft harbours. The member may not speak to her constituents, but they speak to me. They are excited. They see this as an opportunity. I invite the member to speak to her constituents.

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 have not heard from this member since the day he called the school food program garbage, so it is nice to see him stand in the House. My counterparts and I continue to work to remove tariffs, but the spring economic update has nearly $1 billion for small craft harbours. I want to ask the member, will he vote to support this?

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague for his tireless advocacy. Small craft harbours are vital to the fisheries and vital to our coastal communities. That is why the spring economic update had almost a billion dollars in it to help support small craft. This will be a—