Marie-France Lalonde

Mr. Speaker, it is always an honour to rise in the House of Commons. I am proud to rise today to speak to Bill C‑39, the building Canada strong act. When we talk about building Canada, it is helpful to take a step back. Before we talk about laws, infrastructure, investments or major projects, let us remember one simple truth: Canada was built by people who dared to think big. Through hard work, determination and vision, generations of Canadians built communities, created opportunities and contributed to creating what is now the best country in the world. Our history is, in many ways, a story of bringing people together. When Canadians built the railway, they were doing far more than laying tracks across the country; they were connecting communities, creating opportunities and opening new possibilities for future generations. They understood that a strong and united Canada depends on connections between people, regions and ideas. That vision helped transform a vast country into the Canada we proudly call home today. Canadians had a bold vision for their future. They wanted an ambitious country and, through determination and hard work, they built one. Canada has never been a country that has stood still. Over the years, we have kept on building: ports, roads, transportation networks, and infrastructure like hospitals and community centres. All of this has allowed our communities to grow and prosper. We have invested in developing our natural resources, like hydroelectricity, and built nuclear power plants using CANDU technology. We founded universities, like McGill University, the University of Toronto, Queen's University and the University of Ottawa. We have also become an important ecosystem in the auto sector, particularly here in the beautiful province of Ontario. As Canadians, we understand that building is not just a matter of concrete and steel. First and foremost, building is about people: the entrepreneurs who create jobs, the workers who contribute to our economy's growth every day, the researchers who push the boundaries of knowledge, and the young people who imagine the Canada of the future, a stable and prosperous Canada that is free to act as it sees fit. When I hear the words “building Canada strong”, I think of a Canada that believes in ambition, rewards hard work and creates the conditions for every Canadian to succeed. I think of a Canada that gives its people the opportunity not only to dream big, but to turn those dreams into reality. As I reflect on the many conversations I had this summer with constituents in Orléans, I am reminded that my community is somewhat anxious about the world and about the economy, but my community in Orléans is also optimistic about the new opportunities. They want good jobs. They want growing businesses. They want their children and their grandchildren to be able to successfully live right here in Canada, and they understand that in a rapidly changing world, the status quo is not an option. Over the decades, the global economy has changed. Technology has advanced and new industries have emerged. Every step of the way, Canada has managed to adapt and make the most of the opportunities that came its way. We know that a strong economy is built not by looking backward, to the past, but by preparing for the future. Canada cannot rely on its past success alone to meet the challenges of the future. Now, our turn has come to build on this legacy by creating the conditions that will allow Canadians to succeed in an ever-changing global economy. That is why diversification matters. Diversification is not about turning away from our long-standing partners. It is about ensuring that Canada is well positioned to compete and succeed in a changing world. It means creating new opportunities for Canadian businesses, opening new markets for Canadian products and strengthening our economic resilience. It means giving our workers, entrepreneurs and innovators more places to sell, invest and grow. This is also why our government has set an ambitious objective to help Canadian businesses expand into new markets and increase Canada's exports beyond the United States. A resilient economy is one that can adapt, seize opportunities wherever they arise, and continue to create good jobs and prosperity here at home. Today's global economy is changing fast. Supply chains are being reshaped, and trade structures are transforming. Countries want to secure access to the strategic resources and goods they need for sustained growth. In this context, Canada cannot afford to sit on the sidelines. We have everything it takes to succeed. We have talented and highly skilled workers, innovative entrepreneurs creating jobs, and coveted natural resources. We also have communities across Canada that are ready to help grow our economy. The question is not whether Canada has the potential to succeed. The question is whether we are ready to seize the opportunities that are ours for the taking. I believe we are. The building Canada strong act is about making it easier to get projects moving. It is about giving businesses and investors greater certainty. Our government has created and will continue to create the conditions that allow businesses to invest and grow, and give investors the confidence to invest here in Canada. It is about strengthening the transportation and trade corridors that connect our communities to the rest of the country and to the world. It is about making sure Canadian workers continue to benefit from a growing economy. These are important changes and important changes deserve careful study. Over the last year, the bill has been shaped by consulting with businesses, investors, unions, employers, other stakeholders and our indigenous partners. The government participated in 30 meetings with indigenous groups. The intent of all these consultations with all these stakeholders was to create a project approval process that is more efficient, more predictable and better coordinated, while maintaining rigorous environmental studies and standards, upholding indigenous rights and ensuring fair treatment for workers. If we are to build for the future, we must do so in a way that earns public confidence, creates opportunities for Canadians and delivers lasting benefits to communities across the country. That is the balance we must strive to achieve as we consider Bill C-39, the building Canada strong act. One aspect of our history that is worth mentioning is our openness to the world. Canada has never built its future alone. We have developed partnerships and welcomed people from all walks of life, whose history and culture enrich our society. By inspiring trust, Canada has built economic and diplomatic relationships that contribute to our prosperity. These relationships are still essential today. When I think about the railway, I do not think only about the infrastructure. I also think about a generation of Canadians who chose to invest in the future of this country. When I think about Canada's successes, I do not only think about economic indicators or statistics. I think about the men and the women who had the courage to build, to innovate and to believe in what our country could achieve. When I think about diversifying our economy, I think about our ability to adapt, change and seize new opportunities. I think about the next generation of Canadians. I think about the jobs they will hold, the businesses they will create and the opportunities that will be available to them. At the end, our greatest strength has never been a single project, a single industry or a single resource. Our greatest strength has always been our people. Let us be ambitious for our country, let us move forward responsibly and let us make the most of the opportunities before us. If we do so, future generations will be able to look back on this period and say that Canadians saw the challenges before them, rose to meet them and chose to build for the future.

Mr. Speaker, I support Bill C-39. I support our workers. I am a former business owner myself. I completely agree that the rights of workers are very important in this country. This bill is about giving certainty, allowing projects to go forward and seeking the future of our economy. This is very important, and it is why I stand in very strong support of this bill.

Mr. Speaker, I also appreciate working collaboratively with my colleague on the francophonie, at the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie and on other such issues. I would also like to remind the House and my colleague that we can engage in fearmongering or we can talk about the facts, including the investments made in Quebec in recent years, in all sorts of excellent projects that will improve working conditions and boost Canada's economic situation, including in Quebec. I want to talk about that briefly. In recent years, there have been six icebreakers ordered from Davie Canada. There is the big port project in Contrecoeur. There was the designation of Quebec City as a container port. We need to stop looking backward and start moving forward. It is no longer 1900. It is 2026. I would like to remind my colleague of that.

Mr. Speaker, I thank the member very much for his important question. The government has promised to keep investing not only in major projects, but also in communities and people. I just want to make a comment. I know we have been talking about Quebec, but I want to talk about something else. Quite recently, Canada and Ontario agreed to continue supporting our families when it comes to child care fees. Quebec had set an extraordinary example, which we followed. I am proud to see that our government is going to keep investing to help families.

Mr. Speaker, that could be complicated, because this is a very important challenge. As an economy and a society, we are facing mental health issues, which my colleague has been advocating to help. Mental health is something we are addressing. We are helping provinces with their own responsibility for mental health in our local communities by improving housing, returning dollars and helping families with the cost of living. We are going to continue to advocate, and I am certainly advocating, for better mental health in this country.