Judy A. Sgro

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be able to add my comments on this very important piece of legislation today. As we reach a point where we would be moving forward on it, I am glad to have a chance to participate. As I indicated, I am pleased to rise today in support of Bill C-39, the one Canadian economy act. At a time when Canadians are facing profound economic uncertainty, this legislation represents a critical step towards building a stronger, more resilient and more prosperous Canada. The world is changing rapidly. Long-standing assumptions about global trade, supply chains and economic partnerships can no longer be taken for granted. Around the world, countries are reassessing their economic security, looking for reliable partners and working to strengthen their ability to weather external shocks that we hear about every day. In this new environment, Canada has a unique opportunity and it is imperative that we do not allow it to slip away. We are one of the very few countries in the world that possess all the ingredients necessary to succeed in this emerging economic reality. We have abundant natural resources. We have a highly skilled workforce. We have world-class innovators, researchers and entrepreneurs. We have strong democratic institutions, the rule of law and a culture of co-operation that is respected around the world everywhere, including in this House. Most important, we have the capacity not only to build a stronger future for ourselves, but to serve as a trusted partner to other nations that are seeking stable and reliable economic relationships, given the current situation with our partner to the south. As countries look to diversify supply chains and reduce vulnerabilities, Canada can help lead that way. We can strengthen our economic independence while deepening partnerships with like-minded nations. We can help build an international economy rooted in stability, integrity, prosperity and mutual respect. To seize that opportunity, we must be prepared to build. We must be able to develop our resources responsibly. We must be able to construct major infrastructure. We must be able to connect our producers to new markets and we also have to be able to do so at a pace that reflects the urgency of the moment. This is where Bill C-39 comes in. A critical component of this legislation would address one of Canada's long-standing challenges: our ability to move important projects from proposals to construction in a timely and predictable manner. Canadians rightly expect strong oversight of major projects. They expect rigorous environmental assessments, which we intend to see continue. They expect meaningful consultation and partnership with indigenous communities, something that is very important to all of us here in the House. They expect transparency, accountability and responsible governance. These are not obstacles to progress. They are reflections of the values that define us all as Canadians. The challenge is not that Canada reviews projects. The challenge is that our review processes have too often become fragmented, duplicative and unpredictable. Projects that would create jobs, strengthen supply chains and improve Canada's competitiveness have too frequently encountered delays that discourage investment and cause opportunities to be lost. Bill C-39 would address that challenge. Our government is creating a faster, more predictable and more coordinated system for project reviews, while fully maintaining the high standards that Canadians expect. The legislation would establish clearer, simpler and more predictable processes for project proponents and indigenous groups participating in consultations. It would provide investors with the certainty they need to put capital to work and have confidence to build in Canada. Through a more coordinated approach to federal approvals and a commitment to timely decisions, we would improve the efficiency of our diligence without compromising the values and protections that Canadians have entrusted us to uphold. That balance is essential. Investors need certainty, workers are looking for opportunity, and communities are looking for growth. Indigenous partners deserve meaningful engagement. Canadians need confidence that important projects are can be built responsibly and efficiently. Bill C-39 attempts to strike that balance. At the heart of every major project, every transportation corridor and every new economic opportunity are Canadian workers. Building a stronger Canada is not simply a matter of policy. It depends on the people who design, construct, operate and maintain the infrastructure that powers our economy. That is why our government would also be modernizing Canada's labour framework and strengthening protections for workers in federally regulated industries. Changes to the Canada Labour Code would strengthen collective bargaining by helping parties address issues earlier, reach negotiated agreements and resolve disputes, while fully protecting the right to strike that we all respect and acknowledge. Additional measures would modernize labour protections to keep pace with the changing economy. The government would also add 100 new health and safety officers to increase inspection capacity, additional staff to help address complaints before the Canada Industrial Relations Board, and enhanced enforcement measures to crack down on worker misclassification. Together, these improvements would help build a modern, resilient and fair labour relations system that supports good jobs, stable workplaces and a stronger economy. Just as workers are essential to Canada's future, so too are the transportation networks that connect our products, businesses and communities. Canada's long-term economic strength depends on efficient trade corridors that link our producers to domestic and and international markets. Bill C-39 would help strengthen Canada's trade corridors and their ports, move Canadian goods more efficiently, unlock new opportunities and build more resilient supply chains. The legislation would support the designation of strategic trade corridors, reduce bottlenecks, improve coordination of federal permitting and advance priority transportation projects, something that is way overdue. It would also modernize port governance, promote the digitization of trade processes, reduce unnecessary administrative burdens and create clearer and more predictable conditions for investment. These measures would help Canadian businesses grow, reach new markets and compete successfully in the global economy while maintaining high standards of safety, security and sustainability. Bill C-39 is about more than reducing red tape. It is about ensuring that Canada is ready for the realities of a changing world. It is about building infrastructure, supply chains, workforce, and regulatory systems that are needed to support the next generation of Canadian prosperity. At a time when nations around the world are searching for stability and reliable partners, Canada has an opportunity to lead. We have the resources. We have the talent. We have the expertise. We have the institutions. What is required now is the determination to act. That is what Bill C-39 is about.

Mr. Speaker, I share the member's concerns. I believe that every member of the House shares the member's concerns about ensuring that indigenous communities are at the table 100% of the time. Those discussions are heartfelt. The decisions that will be made should ultimately be made with all of them as a group, and as Canadians together.

Mr. Speaker, I believe that all of us have mutual concerns about protecting the environment regarding Bill C-5, Bill C-39 or any other legislation that goes forward that is expedited. However, at the same time, there are different ways of doing things, and I think a lot of the protections we have around the environment remain there and move forward. I am very confident, in hearing the Minister of the Environment, who is very keen on protecting the environment, that the things that would protect the environment as we move forward are in the bill.

Mr. Speaker, let me say very clearly that I am so happy that Bill C-39 is moving forward. It will be 26 years next month that I have been here as a member of Parliament, and it takes forever to get anything done. There can be many great intentions, but it takes 10 years to get anything done here, and that is not the way we build a country. If I were to invest somewhere, I would want to invest somewhere where I know things are going to move along quickly. In past practice, over 26 years, everything that I thought would happen quickly, in one year, two years or three years, has taken years. It is overdiscussed and overprocessed. I am very glad that Bill C-39 is moving forward. We have to make sure we do things right, protect our interests and protect the environment, but I believe we can do it all at the same time.

Mr. Speaker, I just have to say to the member for Skeena—Bulkley Valley that I was used to seeing someone else when the riding of Skeena—Bulkley Valley was mentioned, so it is nice to see the new member there. Two months is not sufficient. I also do not believe three-quarters to 90% of what I read in newspapers or on social media, because there is so much disinformation and wrong information that unless I know something 100%, I just dismiss it.