Sherry Romanado

Mr. Speaker, we do not need to choose between strong environmental protections and building major projects efficiently. We can and must do both. That is why we are working with provinces and territories to cut duplication and make assessments more efficient, while upholding Canada's world-leading environmental standards and respecting indigenous rights. On top of this, we introduced environmental mapping in our nature strategy to integrate conservation and project planning, to keep nature protected and to build Canada right. Our focus remains on building well, streamlining processes and cutting duplication, not corners.

Mr. Speaker, this is about how we are developing sovereign capabilities that contribute to Canada's defence and security, our economy and our future. One example is sovereign space launch capability, which is clearly set out in Canada's very first defence industrial strategy. Canada is the only G7 country without sovereign space launch capability. For a country with such a long and successful history in the space sector, this is a strategic shortcoming. Space-based systems now underpin essential military, government and civilian services. Having our own launch capability gives Canada greater control over how and when we put critical infrastructure into orbit. Last year, the Department of National Defence looked at available domestic options and considered a range of factors, including regulatory readiness, geographic suitability, operational requirements and the overall ability to support Canada's long-term space objectives. Maritime Launch Services met the necessary environmental and aeronautical safety requirements. The company also demonstrated a level of readiness that aligned with broader defence and economic objectives in the defence industrial strategy. As with any decision related to government procurement, the Department of National Defence entered into this agreement in accordance with the established rules regarding ethics, conflicts of interest and accountability. The hon. member also questioned the value of this investment. However, this is about much more than just access to a piece of land. This investment seeks to give Canada the infrastructure necessary to conduct launches from our own soil. It also seeks to reduce our dependence on foreign suppliers and to strengthen our capacity to manage our space capabilities independently. After weighing the options, we deemed the use of provincial Crown land as an appropriate and low-risk way to provide secure access to a launch site while at the same time avoiding the additional costs, delays and challenges associated with any federal land acquisition process. The site near Canso, Nova Scotia, offers some important advantages, such as access to open ocean, which is desirable for space launches. It also offers a full range of launch trajectories for earth observation, communications satellites and future defence activities. The investment also creates economic opportunities. Our agreement with MLS requires that 90% of the project funding be spent in Canada or with Canadian-owned businesses. This will ensure that the vast majority of this $200-million investment will support Canadian workers and communities. Canada is seeing record investments in space sector research and development from these companies, and projects like this signal that Canada is laying the foundation to support those investments and ensure future opportunities. This project also provides Canada with the opportunity to offer space launch services both commercially and to our allies. We can be proud of Canada's legacy in space. From the Canadarm to advanced satellite technologies, generations of Canadians have consistently been at the forefront of innovation and exploration. Building Canada strong means investing in the technologies that will shape the future. Canada's growing space sector is creating good jobs, strengthening sovereignty and ensuring that Canadians remain leaders in innovation for decades to come.

Let us be clear, Mr. Speaker. Sovereign space launch capabilities are a strategic imperative for Canada. Canada is currently the only G7 country without sovereign space launch capabilities. We are in the process of addressing that strategic gap. Our approach will enable Canada to exercise more control over essential space infrastructure. This is about building Canada strong. It is about investing in Canadian industry, unlocking the full potential of our innovation economy and creating high-quality jobs here at home. It is about developing the critical infrastructure and capabilities that strengthen our sovereignty, enhance our security and support a more resilient Canadian economy. We will build in Canada, we will invest in Canadian workers and Canadian innovation, and we will ensure Canada remains a strong, sovereign and trusted leader in the space domain.

Madam Speaker, under Standing Order 18, all members of this House are honourable. I would ask the member opposite to retract that statement, saying that the members on this side of the House have no integrity.

Mr. Speaker, we are strengthening the Royal Canadian Navy from coast to coast to coast, with billions of dollars in investments in the context of one of the largest shipbuilding programs. This is the largest investment in the Royal Canadian Navy since the Second World War. It includes six Arctic and offshore patrol ships, 15 Canadian combat ships, two joint support ships and up to 12 submarines. The Government of Canada is proud to make generational investments in the Canadian Armed Forces.

Mr. Speaker, I know we are talking about Building Canada Homes and creating this stand-alone agency, and the previous speaker mentioned that no homes have actually been built. I was at the inauguration of a building in my riding in March with 30 units for transitional housing, so I have seen in my own riding that we are building. We are building to make sure that we provide the supply to allow more Canadians to find a place to live and to buy their first home. As such, I am not quite sure why the members opposite are saying no homes are being built, when I know for a fact that in my riding there have been. In fact, Longueuil was actually identified as one of the six projects initially announced.

Mr. Speaker, I have not had a chance to work with the member opposite yet here in this Parliament. I would like to ask for her thoughts with respect to the supports that we have been providing for young people, including in the spring economic statement in terms of providing training opportunities for young people. I think that she mentioned some young people in her speech and the importance of supporting young people. I would like to know if she would support those initiatives, in terms of helping train young people for apprenticeships.

Mr. Speaker, I do not know if my colleague has been hearing the same thing I have been hearing in my riding. I hear people saying they understand that Canada is facing a lot of challenges with respect to geopolitics, with respect to trade and so forth. They want Canadians to stick together and to work together for the benefit of all Canadians. The member alluded to how this debate today has been about almost celebrating Canada's difficulties in terms of the economy. Can the member let us know if he is hearing the same thing from constituents that I am with respect to working together for the benefit of Canadians?

Mr. Speaker, I had a chance to visit the hon. member's riding a couple of years ago. It is a beautiful riding with phenomenal people. I was listening to her speech quite intently. She mentioned something that I think we can all agree with. No one wants young people to have to leave their home to find work. I think that all of us want to make sure that young people who want to stay in their home province, find a good job and be able to settle and have a family have that opportunity. With that, I know that we recently brought forward the team Canada strong plan in the spring economic statement, which will allow for apprenticeship training and some opportunities to allow young people to get the skill set they need to help build the homes that the member is referring to. Would she agree that this could be a good initiative in terms of helping young people stay in their home province?

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for her support for members of the Canadian Armed Forces and their families. The member spoke a lot about the defence industrial strategy, and a previous question suggested that there was no defence strategy. In fact, in the defence industrial strategy, it clearly indicates the 10 sovereign capabilities that Canada has indicated very clearly with respect to what they are looking for in terms of procurement and our own sovereignty. I would ask the member to elaborate a bit about what she is hearing on the ground in her riding with respect to those 10 sovereign capabilities.

Madam Speaker, the ACVA committee report that we are discussing this morning calls for the creation of an independent review board. As the member knows, we announced on Friday that we will be doing that. I will be meeting with the organizers behind Valour in the Presence of the Enemy this afternoon to talk about next steps and move forward. I would ask my colleague if he is willing to work with us to make sure we have the feedback he would like us to have in terms of what the advisory board should look like.

Madam Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for championing the issue and bringing the parties together. This is a non-partisan issue. In fact, when I ran in 2015, I ran because I am the mother of two serving members. At that time, I remember giving an interview, and someone asked me why I was running. I said it was because I want to make sure that, should something happen to my kids, they will be taken care of. I reread that statement recently about my commitment and why I ran for office. As I said last Friday, I am committed to working with all members of the House to get the advisory board put forward. I would like to ask the member if she has heard some additional feedback in terms of what we should be looking at. I know that the member from the opposition mentioned a previous motion that was brought forward with some guidelines and some recommendations. I would like to hear if she also has some additional recommendations she would like to share.

Mr. Speaker, establishing sovereign space launch capabilities in Canada will generate billions of dollars in investment, create well-paying jobs, strengthen Canada's sovereignty, reduce our dependence on the United States, and support a commercial space launch and re-entry sector. This could represent as much as $40 billion. That is what we are investing in. These are essential capabilities that protect Canada and generate significant economic benefits for Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, honouring bravery and sacrifice in service to Canada is among our government's most solemn responsibilities. We are profoundly grateful to all those who have served and who continue to serve our country. Military honours, including Canada's Victoria Cross, are subject to a thorough and rigorous review process by the Canadian Armed Forces. I can confirm that the government agrees to the establishment of an independent military honours review board to review Afghanistan veteran cases where new evidence may suggest that the criteria for the Victoria Cross may have been met. I look forward to providing further updates to this House in due course.

Mr. Speaker, establishing Canadian sovereignty of space launch capabilities is essential for us, not only in terms of our defence capabilities, but also in terms of our ability to detect wildfires and atmospheric issues. This is incredibly important for Canada. The premier of Nova Scotia is in support. The industry is in support. This is going to generate billions of dollars in economic returns and create jobs. I do not understand why the Conservatives are against innovation.

Mr. Speaker, as someone who has the Canadian Space Agency in Longueuil, I do not understand why the member opposite is not supporting space domain awareness. This is incredibly important. Our job is to make sure that our forces are ready and resilient when operating in the space domain. We are standing up 3 Canadian Space Division, which will ensure space domain awareness, defend and protect our satellites, and deliver space power in support of military operations. This will allow Canada to have sovereignty in terms of our ability to launch satellites into space. Our allies are asking for this. I do not understand what the problem is.

Mr. Speaker, establishing Canadian sovereign space launch capabilities will drive billions in investments, create good-paying jobs, increase Canada's sovereignty, reduce our reliance on the United States and support a commercial space launch and re-entry industry that could be worth up to $40 billion. That is what we are investing in, and these are essential capabilities that protect Canada and create massive economic benefits for Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, establishing sovereign space launch capabilities in Canada will drive billions of dollars in investment, create good-paying jobs, increase Canada's sovereignty, reduce our reliance on the United States and support a commercial space launch and re-entry sector that could be worth up to $40 billion dollars. That is what we are investing in. These are essential capabilities that protect Canada and create massive economic benefits for Canadians.

Mr. Speaker, Canada has long been a global leader in the aerospace sector. Establishing Canadian sovereign space launch capabilities will drive billions in investments, create good-paying jobs, increase Canada's sovereignty, and support a commercial space launch and re-entry industry that could be worth up to $40 billion. This is what we are investing in. These are essential capabilities that protect Canada and create massive economic benefits for Canadians. In fact, it is estimated that the sector sustains 225,000 jobs across Canada. Through Canada's first-ever defence industrial strategy, along with our recent investments in aerospace capabilities, we are working hard to grow this sector even further. This strategy provides the signal to industry, allies, partners, the Canadian Armed Forces and Canadians that we are moving forward quickly and with purpose. The defence industrial strategy identifies space as one of 10 sovereign capabilities for Canada. These are the capabilities we need to invest in and foster so that our military can remain agile, effective and ready to meet the requirements of a more complex security environment, and so that we can support Canadian workers and Canadian industry by building on what we already do very well. By prioritizing space capabilities and other sovereign capabilities, and by making a host of other changes to how we are rebuilding and re-equipping our forces while reinvesting in them, we anticipate that the defence industrial strategy will deliver impressive results, including 125,000 high-quality jobs across the Canadian economy, an increase in total revenue for the Canadian defence industry of more than 240%, and a 50% increase in Canada's defence exports. This will all occur over the next decade. Our new build-partner-buy strategy means that we are investing in Canadian workers, in Canadian industry and in the Canadian economy. Our investments in Canada's space capabilities will translate into new jobs, stronger supply chains, greater industrial capacity and a more resilient Canadian economy. I will turn to one such investment in particular, the spaceport near Canso, Nova Scotia. As the Minister of National Defence announced back in March, Canada has signed a 10-year, $200-million agreement with Maritime Launch Services to build out Canada's sovereign launch infrastructure. As part of this agreement, Maritime Launch Services must spend 90% of that funding here in Canada. This means that $180 million will go back into Canadian businesses. Moreover, we expect that, once complete, it will help bring direct and indirect benefits to Canada's space, industrial, hospitality and tourism sectors, including those in the local community. Canada and Canso, in particular, are a natural choice for this launch capability. We have the space expertise, the industrial capacity and a site near Canso that is suitable for safe and effective launch operations, because of its proximity to the ocean. That is why many of our allies and partners have already expressed interest in collaborating with us to support their own launches, which will create even more opportunities in the region. The Canadian Space Agency is in Longueuil, and I have visited it many times. This capability is incredibly important to our national defence and our sovereignty. In short, this investment is good news for Nova Scotia, for Canada and for everyone who works in the space domain.