Oral Questions
Mr. Speaker, I will give the Conservatives credit. They are now talking about actual measures that could support affordability, but I would ask them where they have been for the last number of months and years. I have been a member of Parliament for seven years in the House, and it does not matter if it is the Canada child benefit, national child care, the national school food program or the tax m…
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Mr. Speaker, we recognize that there are challenges across the country. That is exactly why we cut taxes for 22 million Canadians. It is why we have put in the groceries and essentials rebate. It is why we have doubled down on social programs that matter for everyday Canadians. However, we reject the premise of the Conservatives' question, that the government's policies have resulted in the challe…
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Mr. Speaker, may I respectfully ask why that member votes against the measures that support the good people of Oshawa and the people across this country? As we said in the last answer, we are here fighting for Canadian industry and business. That member has voted against tax cuts for Canadians. That member has voted against strategic financing to support the auto sector in this country. The Minist…
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Mr. Speaker, we recognize that there are challenges across the country and that there are people struggling with the cost of affordability. That is exactly why we have put in place the groceries and essentials rebate—
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Madam Speaker, what I find quite remarkable is that in the Conservatives' questions there is never a recognition that the U.S. administration has imposed tariffs on some of our key sectors in this country. We are continuing to make the case to try to remove them. The member blows right by the fact that 88,000 jobs were created in May, primarily in the private sector and primarily in construction, …
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Madam Speaker, we know the challenges for certain sectors in the Canadian economy on aluminum, on steel, on auto and forestry. Our Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade and our ambassador in Washington, Janice Charette, who has been appointed, are engaging with the U.S. administration. The member talked about jobs. I do think it is important to recognize that there were 88,000 jobs created in…
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to commend my colleague for being such a strong advocate in Parliament for farmers across the country and especially in Quebec. With regard to the clean fuel regulations, there are a lot of options available to the affected parties to ensure compliance, and that includes the use of biofuels. There are farmers in western Canada and Quebec who grow corn and who have the opp…
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Mr. Speaker, that is a difficult question, and one that is difficult to answer in 20 seconds. With regard to price regulation, there are definitely certain regulators in the Atlantic provinces, in Quebec and elsewhere in Canada. I believe that we actually do have a model, and it is up to the provinces and territories to determine the necessary retail price.
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Mr. Chair, I appreciate the attention to that matter from the minister. Yes, we do have a great working relationship, and I know that will continue. We have a lot of small businesses in Kings—Hants. When we talked today in the House about affordability, I chastised some of the Conservative positions in the opposition day motion as being too narrow and not looking at broader affordability measures.…
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Mr. Speaker, I know that the crowd is in high anticipation for my remarks today on the opposition day motion. I will remind the hon. chair of the House of Commons agriculture committee that I look forward to his questions after my 20-minute remark here. Mr. Speaker, you will know from my seven years as a parliamentarian that I thoroughly enjoy opposition day motions. Obviously I have had the privi…
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Mr. Chair, it is a privilege to be able to join today's debate on the estimates and be able to put good questions on behalf of the good people of Kings—Hants to the Minister of Finance. I want to start by saying, having served for seven years as a member of Parliament, I appreciate the work of the hon. member from Shawinigan. I appreciate his work in his capacity in a variety of files. I have had …
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Mr. Chair, the hon. member for Waterloo is a great colleague. She and I have talked a lot about Canada's fiscal position. We have a AAA credit rating. We have the lowest net debt-to-GDP ratio in the G7. We have a strong fiscal position. I do not want the minister to take a whole lot of time, because I only have two minutes, but does he have quick comments on Canada's fiscal position and how he wou…
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Mr. Chair, I represent the largest agricultural riding in Atlantic Canada. Kings—Hants is home to a whole series of different commodity groups and one is the wine sector. We have an emerging grape and wine sector in Kings—Hants. The hon. minister had an opportunity to visit the riding. I know he is a great friend to the agricultural community across the country. One program that is of deep interes…
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Mr. Chair, I am sorry I had to cut the minister off. He is great, but I have to get in one last question. I see the hon. member for South Shore—St. Margarets, who has done great work on China, on the file around lobsters and working with the government to remove tariffs. I see the hon. member for Labrador and the member for Avalon. I can say that it is fisheries that matter in Atlantic Canada. It …
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Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank my hon. colleague from Saanich—Gulf Islands for ensuring that we have proper decorum. I believe that my remarks here today have value, and I really look forward to engaging with my colleagues, particularly when we get to questions after the speech. Perhaps people were just excited to be able to see the parliamentary secretary and the hon. member for Kings—Hants, …
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Mr. Speaker, the hon. member is one I would put in the camp of the good ones whom I have a lot of respect for. I know he is framing this around $1,200. We are looking at a comprehensive view around affordability. We have already reduced gas taxes in Canada by 28¢ a litre. We believe that is important. The hon. member talked about, and I would reject the premise of his question, how the government …
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Mr. Speaker, I want to say, first of all, on the record that I am proud of the work of the member for Sarnia—Lambton. Even when she sat on that side of the House, the opposition side of the House, I thought she litigated in a way that was respectful. She would engage respectfully. We are very happy to see her on the government benches helping to support the public policy of the government. The way…
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Mr. Chair, I agree with the hon. minister. He may have been referencing the hon. member for Peterborough and her experience in working in the agriculture sector. Let me go on the record in seconding the minister's belief that the member for Peterborough is a great champion in this House, along with the hon. member for Compton—Stanstead. We have a whole host of leaders in that agricultural space. T…
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Mr. Speaker, what I would say is that this differential existed when Stephen Harper was the prime minister as well. There are a number of factors in the way in which Canadians create the revenue that supports social programs. At the end of the day, what the hon. member is suggesting in today's motion is to take away the funding of GST that supports broad government programs in that member's riding…
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Mr. Speaker, naturally I cannot explain the political views of the Conservative Party. However, as far as our government is concerned, I am very proud of the work we are doing with the Government of Quebec, particularly on major projects like the Contrecœur project and the Nouveau Monde Graphite project, as well as the investments that are being made. There is some good news for Airbus and AirAsia…
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Mr. Speaker, I would simply highlight that the Minister of Agriculture, who is from the member's home province, has been doing great work in Mexico, whether it is with potatoes or other things. In my context, it is apples from the Annapolis Valley, and there is also the beef sector. I say “well done” to the Minister of Agriculture and the government on creating new markets.
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Mr. Speaker, I am very proud of my use of French here in the House of Commons. Of course I speak English too, but I will not apologize for speaking French. To address the member in his own language, he talked about the work that this government is doing. We are focused on building, and maybe he did not hear because he was not listening very closely through the translation about the work that the g…
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Mr. Speaker, I congratulate my hon. colleague on introducing her bill regarding the importance of cellular service in rural areas. I am very proud of her and her work because this is a very important issue in the riding of Compton—Stanstead, in my riding of Kings—Hants as well, and in many rural communities. In the agricultural sector, we are going to introduce a national food strategy that will b…
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Mr. Speaker, as I mentioned, we have a lot of funding programs available to support sectors currently affected by the U.S. tariffs. I think and I imagine that the hon. Minister of Industry is open to suggestions from all the parties in the House of Commons. I will pass these ideas on to the minister. I know that it is important to the minister that they be brought to the government's attention. Al…
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Mr. Speaker, it is always a privilege to have the opportunity to debate motions tabled by the opposition parties. Today, our hon. colleague from Joliette—Manawan moved a motion about the challenges posed by the U.S. tariffs, particularly for our manufacturing sector. I appreciate the way the Bloc Québécois has presented this motion today, because I think the wording of the motion is relatively fai…
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Mr. Speaker, I will leave it to the Canadian people to decide whether or not the Prime Minister and the government have the vision they are looking for. I would remind my hon. colleague that according to basic statistics right now, almost 70% of Canadians approve of the general direction of the government. It is not for me to say and perhaps not for him to say. We obviously wear different partisan…
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Mr. Speaker, I agree that the forestry sector is important in Canada. My riding is home to companies such as Elmsdale Lumber and Ledwidge Lumber. In Nova Scotia, the forestry sector is absolutely crucial to our rural communities. I think that we can place greater emphasis on all the ideas put forward by members of the House of Commons to ensure that we have specific programs in place to help the s…
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Mr. Speaker, it is a real privilege to be able to join this afternoon's debate to talk about the opposition day motion. Those who know me know that, over my seven years of serving as a member of Parliament, I love opposition day motions because it is an opportunity for members on the government side of the House to critique the text and the policy ideas that are being put forward by the opposition…
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Mr. Speaker, I will start on the way back. I have respect for my hon. colleague as well. We have done great work together. At no point in my speech did I make light of anything, as that member just said, related to the Humboldt Broncos. I absolutely respect the statement he made. In fact, I would like to hear the Conservatives make more of them. That was the point I was making in my entire remarks…
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Mr. Speaker, I know I am getting a rise out of the opposition because they know it is true. I hope the leader of the official opposition and the empowered and enlightened members on the other side, including the hon. member for Regina—Lewvan, who has a lot to say and whose questions I look forward to, should have a conversation inside their blue tent and ask if they are doing the best for the peop…
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Mr. Speaker, we are always open to collaboration here. Of course, it is our prerogative to introduce and table a spring economic update. As the parliamentary secretary, I am absolutely open to suggestions from my hon. colleague and my other colleagues on the opposition side.
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Mr. Speaker, I would put Calgary Centre ahead of Regina—Lewvan in those remarks, but I do respect the way in which the member has brought his issues forward. I see a more optimistic future for the country, including for Saskatchewan. I look at BHP and the Jansen mine. I look at the work that we are doing to support the Foran mine. On a personal level, I am proud of the work that I did alongside hi…
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Mr. Speaker, we have a whole host of opportunities in Atlantic Canada related to energy. Obviously, the one that the Premier of Nova Scotia has talked about is Wind West and the idea that we have one of the best capacity factors in the world in terms of offshore wind opportunities. This is an opportunity for Nova Scotia. This is a national opportunity, though, because we have an opportunity to bri…
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Mr. Speaker, I have seen this member for one year now sitting in the House of Commons, and I do not think there has been one single issue other than the issue that he continues to raise, on which he is trying to get the government in these gotcha positions, about investing in our natural resource sector. Why does he not look at the way the government is investing in Quebec on grand projects like C…
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Mr. Speaker, I will try to help my hon. colleague here. The principles are exactly the same. Whether it is taking royalty revenue and putting it into a sovereign wealth fund, taking a national surplus and choosing to put it into a national fund or debt financing being put into a national fund, the entire objective here is taking equity positions in major national projects. In Norway's case, it is …
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Mr. Speaker, nowhere in my interventions today did I deny that the government has work to do, that we have to continue to support the reduction of emissions and that we understand the impacts of climate change. I sit with the member for Repentigny on the build Canada committee, and I observed him trying to get a yes-or-no answer from the CEO of the Major Projects Office when he asked whether or no…
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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for ensuring that more members join us here in the House of Commons to listen to my excellent speech today on Motion No. 9. This is very important, and I appreciate a large crowd being here for me. Again, I think that the government is simply exercising the Westminster tradition. I would reject the premise we have heard from the Conservatives about the idea that t…
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Mr. Speaker, of course, yes. This being the first time I have sat as a member of Parliament where we are actually in a majority situation, I have seen the good work that has happened over minorities. I know that will continue in a majority context. At the end of the day, regardless of the party's standing in the House of Commons, we are here to serve Canadians. There are great ideas on all sides o…
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Mr. Speaker, it is very difficult to have 6.2 members per committee. Tradition dictates that the composition of committees reflect that of the House. For example, if the Liberal Party holds a majority of seats here in the House of Commons, then of course it is possible to have a majority vote. Parliamentary committees need to reflect that reality. That is why we need seven Liberal members on each …
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Mr. Speaker, greetings to all my colleagues. I am pleased to rise today to speak to and debate Motion No. 9, which seeks to make changes to the Standing Orders of the House of Commons now that the Liberal Party has the majority of the seats in the House of Commons because some members changed their party affiliation and because of the three victories our party secured in the by-elections. The West…
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Mr. Speaker, I enjoy the banter I have with the hon. member for Chatham-Kent—Leamington. I will remind the hon. member, first of all, that we do have a trade deal with the United States. It is called CUSMA, and 85% of our products go into the United States tariff-free. We are continuing to make the case to the U.S. administration that we feel section 232 tariffs are unjustified and are against the…
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Mr. Speaker, that member may not know that the International Monetary Fund has actually reaffirmed that Canada has the strongest fiscal position in the G7. We actually have the second fastest growing economy in the G7. As it relates to the tough decisions government has taken, we have a comprehensive expenditure review that is going to save taxpayers $40 billion over the next five years. As it rel…
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Mr. Speaker, perhaps my colleague did not hear the Minister of Finance this morning highlight the fact that the International Monetary Fund has reaffirmed that Canada has the best debt position in the G7 and that we have the second-fastest growing economy in the G7. The member asked for the government to be able to make tough choices. Our comprehensive expenditure review is going to save the taxpa…
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Mr. Speaker, we already have a trade deal with the United States. It is called CUSMA, and we are going through the review process. We understand the challenge to Canadian workers and to Canadian industry. As the Minister for Intergovernmental Affairs and the Prime Minister have made very clear, we are at the table. We are having conversations with the U.S. administration. We are engaging. The Cons…
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Mr. Speaker, there are a number of things in Bill C-25 that I think are important and supportive. I am feeling charitable this morning, so I am going to mention three different areas and will let the parliamentary secretary decide where he might want to respond. First, I think it is important that Bill C-25 would extend some of the foreign interference provisions into nominations and into leadersh…
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Mr. Speaker, we know the importance of the U.S. market and the importance of that continued engagement. This member is from Leamington. I am wondering if he has told his constituents about what was in budget 2025, where the Minister of Finance provided immediate expensing for greenhouse infrastructure in this country. We see that Leamington area as an asset for greenhouses. I have not heard the me…
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Mr. Speaker, April is playoff hockey season, and it was great to see the Montreal Canadiens get off to a great start last night. Closer to home, I want to recognize the tremendous success of two under-13 AAA hockey teams from the Annapolis Valley. The Valley Wild female under-13 and the Valley Jets male under-13 both won their respective provincial championships, earning them the right to represen…
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Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister, along with the Minister for Canada-U.S. Relations, continues to have dialogue with the U.S. administration. We will continue to be there to support Canadian workers who are being impacted by unjustified and illegal tariffs and we are having a conversation about the best pathway forward. If that hon. member would suggest that we should have just thrown the cards on …
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Mr. Speaker, the hon. member told the House he is 39 years old. Based on my math, with 20 years in public service, that is more than half a lifetime already. I congratulate him on the work that he has done both here in the House of Commons and in municipal forums as well. I agree with a lot of what the member talked about, particularly the work in this bill on extending foreign interference concer…
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Mr. Speaker, during the last election, I noticed this increasingly, with the way in which political commentary is happening online, on social media, Facebook, Instagram and a whole host of different mechanisms, including TikTok in some cases. We see the rise of artificial intelligence in society writ large. AI can have the benefit of creating good in the world, but if wrong actors are trying to mi…
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