John Zerucelli

Mr. Speaker, I have a news flash for the hon. member. Who builds houses? The building trades build houses. Who is supporting the building trades? It is the current government, with $6 billion in skilled trades to build right across this country. We are building bridges, roads and hospitals right across this country. We are going to stand up for our workers every single day. When will the Conservatives get on board?

Mr. Speaker, the Conservative Party leader needs to explain the $8.8 million of unaccounted for, unexplained expenses. The Conservatives know that we are in the middle of a trade war, but we have a plan. We are building. Let me give some examples. There is Canada's first European LNG agreement, with more than $30 billion in investment secured. The Nouveau Monde Graphite mine project will provide thousands of jobs in the skilled trades. The Darlington nuclear project in Ontario will provide thousands of jobs in the skilled trades. We are building this country. We are fighting for Canadians. I hope the Conservatives join us.

Mr. Speaker, Canadians do not want theatrics. The Conservative leader knows full well that we are in a trade war, which is creating real headwinds for the Canadian economy. However, we have a plan and we are confident in that plan. One key pillar of that plan is building infrastructure, major projects in the national interest and community infrastructure like roads, bridges and hospitals right across this country with Canadian steel, Canadian lumber and Canadian unionized workers. At the end of the day, we made a historic investment in the skilled trades. That is how we build Canada strong.

Mr. Speaker, we are proud to stand up for our record every day in this House of Commons because the member knows very well that we are in the middle of a trade war. This country is facing headwinds, but we have a plan. Canada is building, from LNG in B.C. to critical minerals in the Prairies, from nuclear and transit in Ontario to ports and mining in Quebec and offshore energy in Atlantic Canada. This is how we create good jobs, great opportunities in the skilled trades and good union jobs. We are building a Canada strong for all.

Mr. Speaker, we have Canada's first European LNG agreement, more than $30 billion in investments secured; the Nouveau Monde Graphite mine project in Quebec, over 1,000 new jobs, shovels in the ground; the Darlington new nuclear project, 18,000 construction jobs; the Contrecoeur port expansion, shovels in the ground; and 150 Airbus A220s, the largest order of Canadian-built aircraft in Canadian history. As the Conservatives know, Canada is facing a trade war. We have a plan, and we are building.

Mr. Speaker, the member talks about affordability, but when it comes time to support the very measures that benefit the seniors in her riding, she votes against them. In her riding, 31,000 members receive the Canada dental benefit. That is a seniors benefit. How does the member stand here and talk about affordability, when she votes against the measures that are supporting seniors?

Mr. Speaker, that member knows very well that we have taken a number of initiatives that have helped Windsor families. People in Windsor know that the member has voted against every one of those measures. However, what we know is that it is time to invest and build. Canada is building again. Today, we announced Canada's first European LNG agreement, which will attract more than $30 billion in investment. We are building new nuclear in Ontario, critical mineral projects in Quebec, like the Nouveau Monde Graphite's Matawinie mine project, and in the Prairies, major infrastructure across the country from Newfoundland and Labrador—

Mr. Speaker, Canada's new government is fiscally responsible. We have reduced the deficit by $11 billion. We are in the strongest fiscal position in the G7. We are making major infrastructure investments that will transform and connect our economy. Our workers know this. Let us hear from our workers. Let us hear from the UA in the member's riding. This update would deliver investments to expand training and for a multitude of apprenticeship needs. It would increase youth, indigenous and diverse participation in the trades for upcoming projects of national interest. That is how we build a Canada strong for all.

Mr. Speaker, again, this new government is fiscally responsible. We reduced the deficit by $11 billion and we are in the strongest fiscal position in the G7. The Conservatives cannot stand up and say they support Canadians while voting against all the supports that Canadians rely on, including youth. The Conservatives oppose tax relief. They oppose child care. They oppose dental care and the national school food program. Who could be against that? The Conservatives cannot oppose all of those programs and then claim they support them. They cannot have it both ways. When will they table a list of inflationary spending items they are going to cut?

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for all of his hard work on behalf of his constituents in Nova Scotia. He is an excellent member. Our spring economic update is investing in the next generation. We are creating paid pathways for 100,000 Canadians to get into the skilled trades with a $6-billion investment, helping young people build good careers right here at home, and we are making the largest investment in sport in Canadian history so kids have the ability, across this country, to stay active and thrive. These are some of the things we are doing to support Canadian youth and to build Canada strong for all.

Mr. Speaker, the member knows very well that Canada is in the best fiscal position in the G7. However, yesterday in question period, I did not hear the Conservatives mention the word “workers” once, so let us hear from workers directly. Let us hear from Colin Daniels, who represents Saskatchewan Building Trades and is one of the members of the mighty ironworkers. Colin Daniels says: This is a historic announcement from our Liberal Government. Supporting apprentices and Ironworker Union Training Centres through investments like UTIP is a critical part in delivering Canada's historic level of infrastructure investment. These nation-building projects depend on a strong, skilled workforce—

Mr. Speaker, I have a lot of respect for the member. We are optimistic about the future of our country. Let us hear from workers. Let us hear from Russ Shewchuk from the IBEW, who said that this economic statement “will super charge the Skilled Trades across Canada to help build and assist the much needed infrastructure and electrification of our country. It will transform apprenticeships in today's technology, safety and training, meeting the moment to supply a workforce for Major Projects from coast to coast to coast.” That is how to build a Canada strong.

Mr. Speaker, this new government is fiscally responsible, reducing the deficit by $11 billion. There has not been a single question today about workers. Let us hear from the workers. Let us hear from Marc Arsenault, the business manager for the building trades in Ontario. “The Federal Spring Economic Statement demonstrates that the Government is firmly committed to strengthening the skilled trades workforce at a time of economic uncertainty. The significant expansion of the Union Training Innovation Program including bricks-and-mortar investments for Red Seal trades, alongside enhanced incentive and completion grants and improved tracking, is a practical approach to supporting apprentices”. That is how to build Canada strong for all.

Mr. Speaker, I know the hard-working men of the Toronto Police Service and other police associations are here in Ottawa today, and I want to thank them for their service. We are spending less to invest more. We are investing in building, from LNG projects in British Columbia, to critical minerals in the Prairies, to nuclear and transit in Ontario, to ports and trade corridors in Quebec, to offshore energy in Atlantic Canada. From Newfoundland to B.C., we are building across this country. Together, we are going to build a Canada strong for all.

Mr. Speaker, it sounds like the member is speaking from experience but, look, the Conservatives cannot stand up and say they support Canadians while voting against the supports Canadians rely on. They have opposed tax relief. They voted against it at every opportunity. They voted against child care. They voted against dental care. They voted against all measures to support the cost of living. They cannot oppose it all and then claim to support it. They cannot have it both ways.

Mr. Speaker, the building trades are in town this week, and I am excited to talk about our plan to build. We are building big, we are building bold and we are building across this country. From B.C. to Newfoundland, we are going to be putting good jobs in the skilled trades using Canadian steel, Canadian lumber and Canadian aluminum. We are building. It is time to invest. When will they get on board? Probably never.

Mr. Speaker, it is the time to invest, and that is what we are doing. We are building big. The Conservatives cannot claim they care about affordability while fighting at every turn. They voted against affordable housing. They voted against child care. They voted against dental care, and they voted against support for families. They cannot have it both ways.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for the hard work she is doing on behalf of her community. We are focused on growing the economy and supporting Canadian workers. This is why the federal minimum wage is indexed to inflation with an increase to $18.15 on April 1, representing a 21% increase since 2021. These are steady, predictable increases that benefit workers. It is about fairness, stability and building an economy that works for everyone. Our new government is building Canada strong for all.

Mr. Speaker, how one votes in this House matters. On this side of the House, we voted every single day to make life more affordable for Canadians. On that side of the House, Conservatives voted against every measure to make life more affordable for Canadians, such as delivering a tax cut that is benefiting 22 million Canadians, delivering the Canada child benefit, reducing child care costs, cutting the carbon tax that reduces gas prices, delivering dental care and delivering the national school food program. The problem with the Conservatives is that they voted against it all.

Mr. Speaker, since September, Canada's economy has created 80,000 jobs. We know that, in times of global uncertainty, we need to invest. That is why we have made the largest infrastructure investment in Canadian history. We are building big, we are building bold and we are building now, with Canadian steel, Canadian lumber and Canadian unionized workers. We are laser-focused on creating jobs: good jobs in the skilled trades and good jobs for future generations. When will the Conservatives get on board?