Parliamentary Speeches
1,397 speeches by François-Philippe Champagne — Page 2 of 28
Government Orders
Madam Chair, the member will be pleased to hear that the International Monetary Fund just stated that Canada has the strongest fiscal position in the G7. Actually, we have the second-fastest growth in the G7. I am sure that my colleague will be happy to report to his constituents that the country is on a good fiscal track.
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Mr. Speaker, I would also like to compliment my colleague from Richmond—Arthabaska for speaking in both languages in the House. Doing that in the House is important. My reply has two parts. First, I know many people in Richmond—Arthabaska, and I think that his constituents want fiscal responsibility and discipline. They understand that additional revenues have been raised and they also understand …
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Mr. Chair, he can talk down the industry. I will stand up for astronauts and the industry at every step of the way. If he was talking to our southern neighbour, he would understand that it is important for Canada to be able to launch from a Canadian site in order to get into a certain orbit, and we can do that in Canso, Nova Scotia.
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Mr. Chair, I do not know if there is a space parliamentary committee but the hon. member would gain knowledge by talking to our American colleagues. He would learn that having a location in Canada is very strategic in order to launch into a particular orbit, and I can put him in touch with a few astronauts if he wants.
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Mr. Speaker, my colleague's question also gives me the opportunity to speak in the language of Molière, whom we all admire here in the House. The Bloc Québécois members may not have said it yet, but I look at them this morning and I can see it in their smiles and in their hearts. I think they are going to vote for Bill C-30 because they know that Quebeckers need this help. I believe that, as membe…
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Madam Chair, thank you for that reminder. To correct the statement made by my colleague, for whom I have a great deal of respect, I can say that we have, in fact, protected the security-related investments included in the budget. We also protected our defence budgets. We have protected budgets in areas such as research and development, because we are well aware of the importance of those sectors. …
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Again, Mr. Chair, in the spirit of collaboration, I am extending an olive branch to my colleague to put him in touch with astronauts so that he can learn how a launch site in Canada would be in the best interest of Canada's national security.
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my colleague for that important question. I am grateful to her. She has always encouraged the House to consider measures that will help Canadians across the country. She will be pleased to learn that, as I was saying, in the 2026 spring economic update, we actually put two-thirds of that $7 billion in additional revenue toward helping people. We are helping them …
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Madam Chair, my colleague will be happy to hear that we have made generational investments in housing, and in particular with respect to affordable housing. He will know about Build Canada Homes. This is the agency that is going to build more affordable homes in this country, and that is going to be a key pillar of affordability for families.
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Mr. Speaker, I recognize the wisdom behind my colleague's question. Yes, when it was time to stand up for Canadians, the Conservatives remained seated. When it was time to stand up for families, the Conservatives were nowhere to be found. I remember the votes. It is important to vote for affordability at every opportunity. My colleague is right. What I saw with him in New Brunswick, we are seeing …
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Madam Chair, as members are well aware, the Ethics Commissioner is independent from the government. He is an officer of Parliament who does the important job of advising my colleagues here and fulfilling that role. The Ethics Commissioner has the resources he needs to fulfill his important role in our democracy.
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Mr. Speaker, I am glad to hear that my Conservative colleague realizes the reality in this country. He is right to say that what concerns Canadians is the price of rent, the price of food and the price of gas. I am sure he is going to go back to his constituents soon, and the good news is that he will be able to explain to them that in fact the Government of Canada has already acted to provide mor…
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Mr. Chair, I do not know why, when we do these exercises, we need to talk down industry, why we need to talk down Canadians, why we need to talk down what people are doing. Let us talk about the industry. This is an olive branch. I am happy to put him in touch with astronauts—
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Mr. Chair, this is a really good point. When I was in New Brunswick, I had the privilege of seeing the cold storage. I think it is at the Moncton airport that they have a very large facility. That is the kind of structural investment we need to make in this country. Yes, obviously we need to build infrastructure, but cold storage facilities, like the one I saw, are really making a difference. I wa…
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Mr. Chair, I have good news for my colleague. In fact, we have received a record level of investment. I think it is the highest number in the last 20 years. I can reassure her that wherever I go internationally, people value the stability, predictability and opportunities they see in Canada. At this time, the executive director of the International Energy Agency has said that energy architecture i…
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Mr. Chair, my colleague would be happy to know that Canada is seen as an energy superpower. We are attracting a record level of foreign direct investment. Investors around the world are looking for places that offer stability, predictability and the rule of law. I would say Canada stands out in this context, and we will continue to build Canada strong together.
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Mr. Chair, Canadians should take credit for being the country that has attracted the largest amount of foreign investment in the last 20 years. It is not about government. It is about workers. It is about industry. It is about this country. What we have been doing is building the conditions for Canada to stand out in the world. I would remind my colleague that if she looked at the uncertainty inde…
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Mr. Chair, my colleague understands that, in a large country like Canada, we need to make generational investments in infrastructure. That is exactly what we presented in budget 2025. I think Canadians understand that if we want to build a resilient country, if we want to export, we need to build infrastructure across the country.
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Mr. Chair, based on the answers I gave earlier, my colleague will understand that these questions should be directed to the Minister of Transport, who is the minister responsible for this project.
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Mr. Chair, not only am I answering my colleague, but I am giving him a generational answer, as my colleague said. That is a good way to put it. For consistency, with respect to the allegations made by my colleagues, he should direct that question to the minister responsible for the project. I am sure the minister responsible will be happy to answer his question.
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Mr. Chair, like all my colleagues here, in the years I have served in the House, I have always treated my colleagues with the utmost respect. I believe that all members of the House are entitled to the same respect. I have already stated on several occasions that I have complied with all the rules required by law. I will continue to do so, as I am required to do, and as all my colleagues in the Ho…
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Mr. Chair, I am pleased to inform my colleague that I have complied with all legal requirements regarding this matter.
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Mr. Chair, my colleagues will see that the Government of Canada is making generational investments in infrastructure. The country needs modern infrastructure. That is why, in budget 2025, I presented a major infrastructure plan.
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Mr. Chair, I am sure the member can appreciate that, if we are to be consistent with the questions and allegations raised by his colleague, this matter should be addressed to the minister responsible. I know that my colleague is honourable. He understands all the rules of the House. The minister responsible will be happy to provide all the answers my colleague is hoping to get. I will also be happ…
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Madam Chair, I have the opportunity to speak before you tonight, which I would say is a great privilege. I want to thank my colleagues for being here this evening and for taking the time to debate important issues, because we are talking about the budget, after all. We are talking about Canada's public finances. I also want to thank the deputy chair, who plays a very important role in Canada's dem…
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Mr. Chair, the letter in question was forwarded to the Office of the Conflict of Interest and Ethics Commissioner. As I said, I have complied with all the rules under the law. I will continue to do so, as I am required to do and as my colleagues in the House are required to do. We are all subject to the same rules here in the House.
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Mr. Chair, my colleague is an experienced man. He is a very talented parliamentarian, but he is making a lot of allegations. I know that his legal training should lead him to be cautious in what he says and in the allegations he makes against his colleagues, who are all honourable members of the House, as well as their families.
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Madam Chair, I would be pleased to come testify in committee. However, as my colleague said, I made a commitment to find a solution in the interest of the people of Laval. That is exactly what we did, to the satisfaction of the mayor of Laval, Mr. Boyer, who personally expressed his appreciation for the work we accomplished together to resolve this situation.
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Mr. Chair, we understand very well that governance is essential when it comes to the sovereign wealth fund. We have been saying very clearly, very specifically, that it is going to be at arm's length from the Government of Canada.
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Madam Chair, I would like to begin by thanking my colleague for being here this evening to ask his important question. I have already been in touch with the Government of Quebec and the other provincial governments to inform them of the amount that will be allocated. In the spirit of co-operative federalism, at the request of our provincial colleagues, we allowed the provinces to use these amounts…
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Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise and set the record straight. We have heard a lot of things this morning, but I believe that folks listening at home want the facts. They know we are facing the biggest energy crisis in decades, according to the director general of the International Atomic Energy Agency. I am therefore very pleased to take part in today's debate on an issue that affects all Canadia…
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Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be here to listen to the remarks of my colleague. If she wants to talk about affordability, I am sure she knows that the three things that concern Canadians are the price of rent, the price of food and the price of gas. I am sure she will go back to her constituents to say that Canada has taken the lead in helping Canadians with more affordable homes. I am sure she is …
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Mr. Chair, my colleague is right to say that I do my own grocery shopping. I can tell him that a pound of butter weighing in at 454 grams currently costs exactly $5.50.
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Madam Chair, my colleague will be happy to learn, because tonight is a learning exercise for my colleagues, that in fact the percentage, when we look at the debt charge of Canada, is pretty low by historical standards. It is close to 2%. If we look at the historical figures in the 1990s, they were around 6%. I would say that Canada is in a very strong fiscal position.
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Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to hear from my colleague this morning, but I am a little surprised by his comments. The people in his riding are capable of keeping things in perspective. First, I want to congratulate him on becoming a grandfather. He will be happy to know that we are going to build the strongest economy in the G7 for his grandson or granddaughter. We know people are watching us at home…
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Madam Chair, what I would say is that affordability is top of mind for the government, and it is top of mind for Canadians. We understand. That is why we are acting on the price of homes, the price of food and the price of gas.
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Madam Chair, my colleague may not like my answer, but I know Canadians would like to know that housing is a priority for the government. We have made generational investments, and $56 billion will be invested during this fiscal framework to support housing in this country. As we understand, it is a pillar of affordability.
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Madam Chair, I am trying to understand the meaning of the question. What I can say is that my role as Minister of Finance and the government's role is to work in the interest of building the strongest economy in the country, standing up for the interests of workers and industries in this country, and certainly making generational investments that lead to economic growth across the country.
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Madam Chair, in the spirit of teaching my colleague some of the facts, let me quote Kevin Page. He said, “The hard target of a balanced operating budget in 2028‑29 will put more constraints on the government than would fiscal rules tied to changes in the size of the economy”. This is coming from Kevin Page.
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Mr. Chair, I do not understand the nature of the question. If my colleague already has the answer, I do not see the point of asking. As he says, if the information is in the public domain, he will have the opportunity to obtain all the information he needs. We are here to answer any questions, but when it comes to questions involving information that is in the public domain, I believe my colleague…
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Madam Chair, as I said, it is going to be interesting for Canadians to learn that the projected debt charge, as a percentage of GDP, for 2026-27 will be 1.7%. That is far below the peak of 6.5% that Canadians faced in the 1990s. What I am saying is that we are on a very solid fiscal track.
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Madam Chair, I would think it is exactly the opposite. I think electrification is still our north star. Let me just remind my colleague that when Tesla started business, it took 17 years to be profitable. When the Model T Ford was introduced, it was not a success. When we have been doing the same thing for 100 years with internal combustion engines and we switch technology after a century, it is q…
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Mr. Chair, as I have said time and time again, and we have been very clear, the fund will be independent from the government. We know this is a very important feature of this fund. It is going to be at arm's length from the government. It will make its investment decisions in accordance with the—
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Mr. Chair, my colleague is very learned in finance. There is a difference between the mandate, which we have said is very clear, and the governance, which we say is going to be independent. It will have its own separate board and will be independent from government. We know this is very important. When creating a sovereign wealth fund, governance is very important. The hon. member can be assured t…
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Madam Chair, I am sure my colleague knows that, under Canada's free trade agreement with the United States and Mexico, 85% of Canadian exports have exemptions and that Canada has one of lowest tariff rates overall, at around 5%. We will always be here to stand up for the interests of our industries, including culture, of course, as well as film. We are here to stand up for all industries and worke…
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Madam Chair, in front of all the people of Quebec City who are watching us, I want to congratulate the member. I think that the people of Quebec City should be proud to have an MP like him. He has a strong grasp of the issues, not only in the greater Quebec City area and in the national capital, but also as the former president of the Quebec City chamber of commerce and industry. He is obviously s…
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Madam Chair, my colleague will be happy to hear that Build Canada Homes, this new agency, has been tasked to build all the affordable homes that are going to be needed in this country. This is a game-changer for Canadians. It is a pillar of affordability, and we have made generational investments in housing.
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Mr. Chair, as I said, I have complied with all the rules under the law. I will have the opportunity to testify before the Standing Committee on Access to Information, Privacy and Ethics in the coming weeks, and I will be happy to answer any questions my colleagues may have when I appear before the committee.
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Madam Chair, I am pleased to say that the hon. member will see from the estimates that have been tabled that the measure he is referring to is indeed included in the economic statement I presented in the spring. He will be able to see for himself, in the estimates tabled in the House, the amounts that will be allocated specifically to support this program for journalists.
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Madam Chair, it is a real pleasure to be spending the whole evening with my colleagues. My colleague will be happy to learn, because I know he will be very interested, that we made generational investments in infrastructure, housing, productivity and innovation. The plan of Canada, according to the International Monetary Fund, is the way forward in order to create growth. I am sure tonight my coll…
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