Steeve Lavoie

Mr. Speaker, as the parliamentary session begins, I would like to take this opportunity to wish you and all my colleagues well, along with the many parliamentary employees who make our work here in the House possible, day in and day out. I am very pleased to see everyone again after a great summer in my riding of Beauport—Limoilou. Over the past few months, I have met with over 50 organizations and businesses in my riding and participated in various activities and festivities in my community. Before I speak to Bill C-39, the building Canada strong act, I want to take a moment to tell you about an experience I had this summer in my riding. It shines a light on the importance of our work as MPs, whether here, in Ottawa, or through programs that directly affect our communities, like the Canada summer jobs program. I met with more than 30 organizations this summer that participate in this program. I can guarantee one thing: The program is making a real difference on the ground. People from one of the organizations I visited told me that they had been asking for two student job positions for a number of years but, unfortunately, they always received only one. This year, we made sure that they got two. I would like to repeat what the people at this organization told me. They told me that the second position would let them give their volunteers some time off—

Mr. Speaker, my story is almost finished. My colleague will be able to put it to good use and I will get back to Bill C-39 very soon. What the people at that organization told me is worth remembering. The second student job position really helped get volunteers some time off, time for their first-ever vacation. Let that sink in for a second. Having one extra person made it possible for volunteers to take some vacation time. What we do here has a real impact in our communities. I wanted to highlight that at the start of my speech today. Now, I would like to get back to Bill C-39, the building Canada strong act, under discussion today. I want to begin by referring to a book published in 2025, which I am sure will call to mind Bill C-39 for my colleagues. In the book Abundance, by Ezra Klein and Derek Thompson, one of the questions the authors ask is why a country as rich and technologically advanced as our southern neighbour currently struggles to build enough housing, infrastructure, energy and other essential goods. To some degree, I think we all see some similarity to the challenges facing Canada today. The authors argue that part of the problem is the rules, procedures and institutions that, over time, have made delivering major projects much slower and much more difficult. They therefore advocate for placing greater emphasis on our ability to produce, build and deliver. In short, this means shifting from a policy focused primarily on distributing resources to one that also seeks to increase supply, ramp up our production capacity and boost our ability to build. At this point, I think it is fair to draw a parallel between that analysis and what we are proposing in Bill C‑39 to build Canada strong. I am sure all of my colleagues have heard the old saying about doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. We need to do things differently. We need to think differently. Anyone who believes we can keep doing exactly the same things and suddenly achieve different results is sticking their head in the sand. That is choosing inaction. That is choosing the status quo, and the status quo is a choice. Changing nothing is a choice. Leaving things the way they are is a choice. We must move away from this mindset and regain our ability to build. We are capable of building more, with greater ambition, and more quickly. Let us take an example from our history: the St. Lawrence Seaway. Major construction work began in 1954, and the Seaway was officially opened to navigation in 1959. It took five years to build the Montreal-Lake Ontario section, which spans approximately 300 kilometres of waterways. It was not just a matter of digging a canal. It required building locks, constructing canals, erecting dams, carrying out major dredging work, modifying bridges and relocating infrastructure. Continuing westward, Montreal is about 600 kilometres from Lake Erie by waterway via Lake Ontario and the Welland Canal. The entire waterway network connecting the St. Lawrence to the heart of the Great Lakes stretches over 2,000 kilometres. Just think about that for a moment. In the 1950s, in just a few years, we were able to carry out one of the greatest infrastructure projects of our time, and we did a significant portion of the work right here at home in Canada. We built, we thought big, and we transformed our economy. The question we need to ask ourselves today is simple. Can we still build with that same ambition? I believe that Bill C‑39 invites us to reflect on this question and, above all, to regain the ability to complete major projects for future generations of Canadians. What does that mean in concrete terms? First, it means making our approval processes for major projects more predictable. These days, when a business, community or proponent wants to build a major project, they often have to navigate multiple processes and steps that might overlap and make the work more complex. It can take longer to get results. Bill C-39 proposes to better coordinate these processes so that decisions on projects requiring a federal permit can be made within one year. Let me be clear. We do not have to choose between upholding Canada's strong environmental protections and streamlining the project review process. We can and must do both. We can be ambitious and rigorous at the same time. I cannot help but immediately think of my region, the Quebec City region, and specifically the Port of Québec, which plays an important role in our regional economy and our trade with the rest of the world. Bill C‑39 proposes to modernize the governance of Canadian ports, reduce certain administrative burdens and facilitate the digitization of trade. The bill also designates strategic trade corridors and establishes a transportation project office to better coordinate federal permits and advance priority projects. A product manufactured in Quebec does not only create value when it leaves the factory. It must then be efficiently transported to a port, a railway or the border and on to new markets. An efficient supply chain is essential to enabling our businesses to grow and innovate. At a time when Canada is looking to diversify its trade and reduce its dependence on certain markets, this capability becomes even more important. We have signed 20 trade agreements over the past year. We must now honour our commitments. This is what building Canada strong means in practical terms. It means enabling a business to carry out a project. It means enabling a port to operate more efficiently. It means enabling our products to reach new markets. It means providing future generations with the infrastructure, jobs and opportunities they will need. Canada has the resources, the talent, the workers, the businesses and the communities capable of achieving great things. Our challenge is not knowing whether we have the capacity to build. Our challenge is equipping ourselves with the means to do just that, the means to realize our ambitions. We need to simplify where we can simplify, coordinate where we can coordinate better, protect what we need to protect. Above all, we need to rediscover our collective ability to build Canada strong.

Mr. Speaker, that is an excellent question. We were fortunate to be able to make that extraordinary announcement this summer after years and years of working with Davie, a real gem in our community. I worked in the Quebec City area as the president of the chamber of commerce. The Davie shipyard is located on the other side of the river, in Lévis. Most of its suppliers are from the Quebec City area. The rest of them are from the surrounding areas. I reviewed the list of all of the suppliers and they are from all over Quebec. An announcement like this has a direct impact on a community like Lévis. We are talking about 5,000 workers, 5,000 good jobs. That gives those families predictability because these are long-term contracts. It provides predictability for Davie over the very long term. It will enable business owners to invest in their companies to supply Davie. This is the kind of thing that the government wants to do and that people need.

Mr. Speaker, I talked about something very important in my speech: the status quo. I have talked about it throughout my career, and I will keep talking about it. People often keep doing the same things while hoping to achieve different results. We introduced a bill. We want to do things differently. We want to speed up projects and provide predictability for investors. Doing things faster does not mean being less rigorous. We must always be rigorous. We can walk and chew gum at the same time, as they say. That is what the government is going to do. This will provide predictability for businesses and contractors, who will be able to pursue projects. The process used to take up to eight years, which is way too long, but it will go much faster now. We are doing the right thing. We are taking action, and that is what Canadians want.

Madam Speaker, taking a closer look at the bill, clearly the goal is to fast-track projects. My colleague talked about bureaucracy. What we want is to make it easier to get projects done. We want to make everything more predictable over time. We want to speed things up. That is exactly what Canadians are asking us to do. We have signed more than 20 trade agreements. Now we need to allow businesses to export their products. A delay of six or eight years is far too long. What we are saying now is that we will do this in less than a year, which will help accelerate projects. We are thinking about supply chains. I mentioned the Port of Québec earlier. Officials there want to invest, and we are giving them a chance to do so. We are providing predictability for investors.

Mr. Speaker, I am glad to be back in Ottawa after a busy summer in my riding of Beauport—Limoilou. I spent the past few months visiting businesses, attending events and meeting with organizations. Most importantly, I took time to listen to everyone's concerns, needs and ideas. Whether in the beautiful parks of Beauport or on the bustling streets of Limoilou, each of these encounters reminded me how privileged I am to represent my community. What can I say about summer in Beauport—Limoilou? From the Cigale festival on the beach at Beauport Bay to the Limoilou market on 3rd Avenue, our community once again showcased its energy and vitality. I am very pleased to see you again, Mr. Speaker, and to be reunited with all my colleagues in the House. I thank the people of Beauport—Limoilou for a great summer.

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his excellent speech. We spent many hours together at the Standing Committee on Finance. I would like to hear his opinion, because things move very quickly here and sometimes we do not have time to discuss things. I would like to know how he felt during all those hours when we were unable to move the bill forward, when we could not make any progress because of the opposition's filibusters. We know what families and seniors are going through right now, and that is why we want to move forward. That is why people elected us. What was my colleague feeling during all that time?

Mr. Speaker, as this is the last time I will be speaking in the House before the summer, I would like to take a moment to pay tribute to those we typically see less of, and without whom our work here would quite simply be impossible. Every day, behind each of our speeches, debates, votes and committee proceedings, there are hundreds of dedicated professionals who ensure that this institution runs smoothly. I am thinking of the clerks, analysts, interpreters, translators, pages, security personnel, technicians, IT staff, administrative support teams and employees in catering, maintenance, transport and communications, as well as all the staff of the House of Commons Administration. I am also thinking of all the civil servants and employees in the various departments and agencies who work diligently, with professionalism and impartiality in the service of the Canadian people. Their work is often behind the scenes, but it has an immense impact. Thanks to their expertise, patience and commitment, we are able to fulfill our mandate of representing our citizens and making progress on the issues that matter to Canadians. On behalf of all MPs, I would like to express our deep gratitude. Their dedication contributes to the vitality of our democracy and the strength of our institutions every single day. I would also like to highlight the exceptional work of our constituency and parliamentary office employees. They are the ones who answer calls, greet constituents, help people navigate their dealings with government departments, organize our meetings, prepare our files and enable us to be present both in our ridings and in Ottawa. They are often the first to hear constituents' concerns and the last to leave the office when an urgent matter needs to be resolved. Their dedication, compassion and professionalism improve the lives of thousands of Canadians in very real ways. Although our debates sometimes pit us against one another, we all share the good fortune of being supported by competent and committed people who work behind the scenes to move things forward. I would like to sincerely thank all of the women and men who serve our democracy with discretion, integrity and dedication. In particular, I want to thank Nancy, Souraya, Nicholas, Aboubacar and Myriam. I am proud to work with them. I rise today to speak to the economic update from a perspective that hits home for me, especially as a father and grandfather, and that issue is youth. Current and future generations are the ones building our country's future amid an uncertain, unprecedented and constantly changing environment. Young Canadians embody what is best about Canada: its openness, vibrancy, curiosity, diversity and ambition. They have ideas, opinions and talents and are unafraid of challenges. They want to contribute, build, create and innovate. They want a country that gives them a real chance at success. More than anything, they want to contribute and do their part. Well, this spring, the government reaffirmed the need to invest in them and to ensure that no young person in this country feels abandoned by the government when it comes to rising to the challenges of current, potential or future issues. This is exactly what this economic update is proposing through a host of important measures. First, let us talk about the team Canada strong initiative, an ambitious plan to recruit, train and hire up to 100,000 young skilled tradespeople by 2030. One of the best ways to support the younger generation while ensuring Canada's prosperity and resilience today and for years to come is to invest in jobs. Team Canada strong provides Canadian workers with paid work placements that lead directly to essential jobs building homes, modernizing infrastructure and strengthening our security. With paid internships, up to $10,000 in grants per apprentice and a $5,000 bonus upon Red Seal certification, we are equipping young people to specialize in an exciting trade while building the Canada of tomorrow. Then there is education. According to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, Canada has the most educated population in the world. That is an immense asset, but it is meaningless if even one young person is left behind. No one in Canada should go without an education because they cannot afford it. That is why we are extending the increase in scholarships and interest-free student loans. More than 570,000 students will receive increased support, and more than 420,000 will have access to subsidized loans. That is a direct investment in young people, allowing them to reach their full potential and contribute to our country's growth and economic development. I am also thinking of young families who have been facing significant increases in the cost of living in recent years due to international upheaval and conflicts beyond our control. The economic update accelerates the construction of rental housing and reduces construction costs. It also includes a national school food program that will provide 400,000 children with access to healthy meals and save parents nearly $800 a year. In addition, it provides for an increase in the Canada child benefit and the Canadian dental care plan, as well as a reduction in child care costs. This economic update is not just a financial plan. It is a commitment to Canada's youth and a message of hope, confidence and responsibility. We cannot predict Canada's future. We must build it with our young people. Earlier, I spoke about the Red Seal. The Red Seal represents Canadian excellence in many trades. It certifies that a worker has met the highest standards of skill recognized across the country. Whether they are an electrician, welder, industrial mechanic, carpenter or work in one of the many other eligible trades, Red Seal holders can practise their profession from coast to coast to coast, knowing that their qualifications are recognized everywhere. This certification allows workers to seize opportunities wherever they arise and gives employers access to recognized expertise, no matter where in the country they are located. The Red Seal is more than just a certification. It is a symbol. It serves as a reminder that excellence is not limited to boardrooms and research labs. It can also be found in our workshops, on our construction sites and in our factories. In my riding, Beauport—Limoilou, and throughout Quebec and Canada, many business owners are talking about how hard it is to recruit skilled workers, who are essential to our economy. They are essential to our ability to build faster, produce more and innovate. That is why we continue to promote skilled trades among young people, individuals in the process of changing careers and newcomers who want to contribute to our economy. Lastly, Canada has what the world wants. We are a true energy superpower, in both clean energy and conventional energy. We also have immense reserves of the critical minerals that are essential to the global energy transition and the technologies of tomorrow. We enjoy privileged access to international markets through free trade agreements with countries that represent more than 1.5 billion consumers. We are already beginning to see the results. In just 12 months, Canada has developed more than 20 new economic and defence partnerships with international partners. These efforts have helped to bring in nearly $97 billion in foreign investment to our economy. This is just the beginning. In September, our government will be hosting the first-ever Canada investment summit. This event will bring together investors, businesses, institutional partners and decision-makers to showcase the unique opportunities that Canada has to offer. We have the resources, the talent, the institutions and the economic and political stability that investors around the world are looking for. Now, we also have a clear plan to turn this advantage into growth, into well-paying jobs and into lasting prosperity for future generations.

Mr. Speaker, as I said, the Canada investment summit will be held in Canada. I talked about the $97-billion investments earlier. Those are investments that Canada already has. Every week, billions of dollars continue to be added because of our economic and political stability.

Mr. Speaker, I will start with the first part of his question. He mentioned la-la land. What I find funny is that I get the impression he was talking to himself. Here is what I took from the Bloc Québécois after watching them during the debate on Bill C-30: They spent all their time complaining, but made no proposals. The Bloc Québécois did not table any amendments during consideration of Bill C-30. It did not table any amendments, yet spent all its time voting against the measures. It voted in favour of some measures and against others, but it voted against the final outcome. It did not put forward any proposals. We, on the other hand, are in the real world. We have put forward proposals. We have even tabled amendments which the opposition voted for.

Mr. Speaker, when I entered into politics, I wanted to do the same thing I did in the private sector. I wanted the money to be spent here at home. I am from Quebec City. Beauport—Limoilou is in Quebec City. The important thing is that the spending happens here. Now I work at the federal level. The money needs to come back here and be spent here. I am pleased to see the government investing here, in our infrastructure, for the future of our children. We need to plan for short-, medium-, and long-term investments. That is what we are doing. There are announcements regarding the long term. There are announcements regarding the medium term. There are announcements regarding the shorter term. I am thinking of the Quebec City tramway. That is $2.75 billion invested right here at home, which will also lead to billions of dollars in housing investment. In fact, $2 billion have already been earmarked. Government investments attract private investment, and that is how we build Canada.

Mr. Speaker, I suggest that my colleague look at the final vote on Bill C-30 to see how many of the Conservatives' amendments were adopted. The answer is a big fat zero. Not a single amendment proposed by the Conservatives was adopted. Their amendments were designed for the sole purpose of obstructing the process. In fact, when it came time to vote, the Conservatives withdrew them all.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to mark an important anniversary in my riding of Beauport—Limoilou: the 60th anniversary of the Beauport Dojo. Founded in 1965, the Beauport Dojo is now recognized as one of the largest Japanese martial arts dojos in Quebec city. For six decades, it has held a very special place in our community. Aside from teaching sports, the Beauport Dojo teaches important life values like respect, discipline, perseverance, confidence and personal achievement. Generations of young people, families and athletes have learned these values thanks to the work of passionate coaches, dedicated volunteers and supportive parents. I want to commend the entire team at the Beauport Dojo for their 60 years of commitment, mentoring and influence.

Madam Speaker, I am grateful for the opportunity to speak today. When I read the motion today, I could not help but think of a story my father told me when I was a kid. The story had to do with Optimist clubs. There are Optimist clubs in Quebec and in just about every province in Canada, and they are really essential to the community. They work hard. I am thinking in particular of the clubs in Beauport—Limoilou that sell hot dogs at baseball tournaments and donate the proceeds to young people. Everyone knows about the Optimist clubs in their community. When I was young, my father told me a little story to make me think. Given the success of the Optimist clubs, he told me a story about two guys. The first one tells the other that since Optimist clubs seem to work so well, they should start a “pessimist club”. The second replies that he does not think it will work. When I read the motion, it reminded me a bit of that story, and I will explain why. I think it is important to put some facts back into the debate today. Yes, the global economy is undergoing a period of uncertainty. Yes, the challenges are real. However, presenting Canada as an economic failure is more pessimism than a serious analysis. The fact of the matter is that Canada is still in a great economic position today compared to many of its G7 partners. Canada is expected to have the second-fastest growth in the G7 this year and next. Our banking system, in which I worked for more than 20 years, is recognized as one of the strongest in the world. Our unemployment rate remains historically low despite global economic turbulence. Millions of jobs have been created since the pandemic, and Canada continues to attract major investments in growth sectors such as critical minerals, artificial intelligence, batteries, aerospace and clean technology. Let us not forget the fundamental fact that Canada and the United States share the world's longest international border. This proximity gives us privileged access to the world's largest economy. Billions of dollars' worth of goods and services cross that border every day, supporting millions of jobs on both sides. Few G7 countries enjoy such a significant advantage in terms of geography and trade. However, this advantage also comes with its share of challenges. When the American economy slows down, when trade tensions emerge or when political decisions are made in Washington, the effects are felt here in Canada right away. Our level of economic integration with the United States leaves us more exposed than many other countries to the ups and downs of the U.S. economy and the uncertainties of its trade policies. That is precisely why we must look at our economic performance in context and with a positive outlook. Despite the economic upheaval in recent years, the supply chain disruptions, the rising global inflation and the uncertainty when it comes to our main trading partner, Canada remains one of the most stable and resilient economies in the G7. That is why we need to assess Canada's economic performance rigorously and honestly. What do the numbers tell us? They tell us that Canada's economy is stronger and more resilient that many people expected. The May labour force survey results show that our plan is working. While several analysts had predicted that only 10,000 jobs would be created, we actually created 88,000 jobs in one month. That is unbelievable. That is not a small difference. It is almost nine times what the market expected. The unemployment rate also dropped to 6.6% from a high of 7.1% last August. These numbers demonstrate one very simple thing: Despite headwinds, global uncertainty and trade tensions with our main economic partner, Canada's labour market remains resilient. What is more, over the past 12 months, Canada has created 147,000 jobs. Since December 2024, Canada has added more jobs per capita than the United States. Canada has created 2.8 jobs for every 1,000 residents, nearly double the rate seen among our neighbours to the south. These are results we can be proud of. It is not just the number of jobs that matters. The quality of the jobs matters too. The recent gains have mainly come from full-time jobs, particularly in the construction industry. Why is that so important? It is because it shows that the investments we are making are in infrastructure, housing and major economic projects that deliver real results. That is good news for the people and the riding of Beauport—Limoilou. It also shows that our decision to align our public investments more closely with the construction season is paying off. Meanwhile, wages continue to rise faster than inflation. For over three years now, workers' incomes have been outpacing price increases. That means more money in the pockets of Canadian families. That is the reality for millions of workers across the country. Of course, there are still some challenges. I am thinking in particular about youth employment. Although youth unemployment is down by 0.9%, marking the first drop since January, we know that many young Canadians are still having a hard time entering the labour market. That is why our government is taking action. In the spring economic update, we announced over $6 billion in investments in our team Canada strong initiative. This initiative will mobilize Canada's skilled trades workforce and meet the growing needs of our economy. Thanks to these investments, we expect to create more than 100,000 new, well‑paying jobs in the skilled trades by 2030. We are making it easier to access apprenticeships. We are supporting training. We are helping young people find stable, well‑paying jobs that are in demand across the country. We are continuing to protect essential programs like Canada summer jobs and the youth climate corps. The opposition is asking us today to conclude that the Canadian economy is failing. The facts tell a very different story. They show us an economy that continues to add jobs despite global uncertainty. They show us wages rising faster than inflation. They show us investments that are boosting construction and strengthening our productive capacity. They show us a country that remains one of the strongest economies in the G20 despite global challenges. Our government remains focused on a clear priority: building the strongest economy in the G7. That is the goal of budget 2025. That is the goal of the spring economic update. That is the goal of every measure we are implementing to support workers, attract investment, and strengthen Canada's competitiveness. Canadians are asking us not to give in to pessimism. They want us to build the future. That is exactly what we are doing. Our free trade agreements with Europe and the Indo‑Pacific region have made Canada one of the best-positioned countries in the world for international trade. The real question is this: Are we in a better position to weather this storm than most of our international partners? The answer is yes, because we have strong institutions, strategic natural resources that are in demand all over the world, and access to over 1.5 billion consumers through our trade agreements and, most of all, because we can count on Canadians' talent, innovation and resilience. Rather than giving into pessimism, we have to acknowledge the challenges yet trust in the incredible strengths of our economy and the immense potential of Canadians. That is exactly what our government is focused on doing: investing in productivity, infrastructure, housing, trade and the workers building our collective prosperity. I, for one, am siding with the optimists.

Madam Speaker, I see that my colleague is part of the optimists' club too. I am glad about that, and I am sure we will make something good out of it. Canada is truly a superpower when it comes to clean and conventional energy. We have vast deposits of critical minerals, so we are well equipped. I see this because I am a member of the Standing Committee on International Trade. I have seen the agreements we are signing all over the world. As I mentioned earlier, that is nearly 1.5 billion consumers worldwide we can do business with. There is no doubt that by diversifying our economy and continuing to attract investment here, we are truly laying the groundwork for the future, and people know it. People know we are going through some rough times right now, but they still believe in us, and we really feel that.

Madam Speaker, I am not sure that question was actually directed at me, but I will take the time to answer it. During my speech, I recounted a story my father used to tell me when I was young, a story about optimists and pessimists. The whole idea is that if we want to build a strong Canada, if we want to look to the future, we have to be part of the optimists' club. If we are pessimists, we will get nowhere together, and the word “together” will cease to exist. That is what we are building, and it saddens me to see members of the opposition parties saying one thing in the House and then doing another. I am talking about voting against measures that help, such as the Canadian dental care plan and the Canada groceries and essentials benefit. I would like to see them join us on the optimistic side.

Madam Speaker, I enjoy working with my colleague on the Standing Committee on Finance. I also know that he loves generating sound bites and I think what he just said will make a great one. I am definitely a member of the optimists' club, and I also believe in saying “and” instead of “or”. I believe that, in order to build a strong economy, we should not simply decide whether to do this thing or that thing. We must believe in saying “and”, that is, we need to build. We need to move forward, and Canadians want us to say “and”, not “or.” Canadians do not want to see us choose between a project in the west or a project in the east. They want both. That is the new strategy. In other words, we are going to grow our investments and build our projects so we can get Canada through these challenging global times by diversifying our economy, helping our businesses do things differently and doubling exports. That is what we are doing. We are working with the mindset of “and”, not “or”.

Mr. Speaker, I find my colleague's alarmist rhetoric a bit sad. I want to congratulate him. He is about to become a grandfather for the first time. I am a grandfather myself, twice over. However, for my part, I can look forward to a bright future for my grandchildren thanks to the decisions being made by the government. Just think of the Lévis region, where the Davie shipyard has started construction and will be providing jobs for people from Beauce. So I would like to know if he really sees this as alarmist rhetoric or if he will side with the government for the sake of his grandchildren's future.

Mr. Speaker, last week I had the opportunity to hold a round table with many businesses in my riding of Beauport—Limoilou to discuss current trade issues and the upcoming CUSMA review. These businesses emphasized the importance of maintaining strong trade relations with the United States, while ensuring greater stability and predictability. Can the Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade give us an update on the the ongoing discussions with our American partners and explain how our government is defending the interests of Canadian businesses and workers as part of the CUSMA review?

Mr. Chair, Canada was built by hard-working people, men and women who get up early, give back to their communities, pay their taxes, raise their families here and choose Canada every day. First, I want to thank the minister for coming to my riding of Beauport—Limoilou on January 21 to meet with the representatives of organizations that play a vital role in the integration of immigrants. It was a very productive meeting. This is particularly relevant right now, as we are striving to strike a balance between economic needs, our communities' intake capacity and the quality of life of our fellow Canadians. Immigrants do not integrate on their own. They are helped by dedicated organizations and individuals who work every day to build bridges between cultures and support newcomers on their immigration journey. Today, I want to acknowledge the outstanding work of many organizations and community leaders in Beauport—Limoilou. I am thinking first and foremost of Théodore Bienvenu Leuwat Ngogang, the founder of Métissage Québec, an organization that promotes the inclusion and well-being of vulnerable families, particularly immigrant families. Through its help, support and programs, Métissage Québec makes a real difference in the lives of families and children. It creates a sense of belonging and helps make the integration process smoother for immigrants. I also want to acknowledge the work of Florent Tchatchoua, founder and executive director of Diaspo Interaction, a webcasting platform that helps develop a multicultural collective identity. His organization gives a voice to cultural communities and promotes dialogue, visibility and connection among Canadians of all backgrounds. Another example is Robinson Ngametche, founder and director of the Découvrir ma cité project. Through guided tours, cultural tours and discovery activities, this organization helps newcomers gain a better understanding of their community, discover their neighbourhood and fully participate in Quebec's economic and social life. Lastly, I want to acknowledge the work of Richard Sah and the organization Amis Solidaires de Québec. This organization plays a key role in advocating for the interests of communities of African descent and promoting living in harmony, inclusion and diversity in our society. These organizations remind us of a fundamental truth: The integration and participation of immigrants in our communities does not depend entirely on public policies. It also hinges on the community's willingness to welcome, support and lend a hand. When we talk about essential workers, we are also talking about very real situations right here in Beauport—Limoilou, because behind every statistic there are real people and families who simply want a chance to build their future here. I am thinking in particular of the workers who are already contributing to the functioning of our local economy in the neighbourhoods of Beauport, Limoilou, Maizerets and Vieux-Moulin. These are people who contribute to our economic vitality, who shop at our businesses, who enrol their children in our schools, and who are full-fledged members of our community. Canada must remain a welcoming country, with a fair, rigorous, and trustworthy immigration system. In Beauport—Limoilou, as across the country, we see every day that when we provide a warm welcome, proper planning and support, our entire community benefits. In closing, I would like to ask the minister a few questions. Canada has always played an important role on the international stage when it comes to welcoming vulnerable people caught up in humanitarian crises. As I mentioned, in our communities, this welcome often becomes a source of human, cultural and economic enrichment when the conditions for integration are in place. This winter, I had the opportunity to meet with representatives of the Alliance des Ukrainiens de Québec, an organization in my riding, Beauport—Limoilou, that supports Ukrainian families and helps them integrate into our community. This meeting reminded me just how vital local organizations are in helping newcomers rebuild their lives here and participate fully in our society. Can you explain how your government intends to uphold Canada's humanitarian commitments in a more unstable global context marked by increasingly large-scale population displacements?