Navdeep Bains

[COVID-19 Pandemic, April 11th, 2020]

Mr. Chair, my hon. colleague has highlighted the importance of our efforts to mobilize industry to look at made in Canada solutions. I would like to highlight and underscore some of the efforts we have made in terms of securing important personal protective equipment.

We have sourced more than 230 million surgical masks, and over 17 million have already been delivered. We have roughly 75 million N95 masks on order. In the coming days, we expect to have over two million more masks in Canada's possession. We have received nearly 10 million pairs of medical gloves.

We have taken appropriate steps to make sure that we protect front-line health care workers.

[Official Languages, March 12th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, our government recognizes the importance of promoting and protecting linguistic minority rights, especially with respect to education.

Unlike the Harper Conservatives, we asked Statistics Canada to figure out the best way to collect high-quality information so we can enumerate rights holders.

[Bankruptcy, February 6th, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, as the member opposite has raised, we know that individuals are going through some difficult times, particularly individuals who are subjected to the bankruptcy law. That is why, in budget 2019, we took important steps to make insolvency proceedings fair and more transparent, like ensuring better oversight over corporate behaviour.

We understand that protecting Canadians and Canadian workers is a priority, and we will continue to do that.

[Natural Resources, February 3rd, 2020]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the member for Vimy for her question.

Our government has always been there for Quebec's aluminum workers and, since 2018, we have been investing in our aluminum smelters, thereby supporting nearly 2,500 good jobs in Saguenay—Lac-Saint-Jean, in Deschambault and in Sept-Îles.

This will help guarantee good, long-term jobs in an industry that is innovative and more sustainable.

[Natural Resources, December 13th, 2019]

Mr. Speaker, the member opposite well knows that, with respect to investments in Alberta, we have seen the production and advancement of the TMX file, which created 2,200 good, well-paying jobs that have already started. Also, I want to highlight the fact that we have made significant investments in Inter Pipeline and the CKPC, which is a $100-million investment that will help create 400 jobs and establish 4,000 new construction jobs as well. These are the types of investments we continue to make while the opposition talks down the economy.

[Foreign Investment, December 13th, 2019]

Mr. Speaker, again, we understand this is very difficult and challenging for the seniors and we want to make sure that their well-being is of the utmost priority. However, with respect to health care, the rigorous standards are applied by the provincial government. It is overseeing the operator and will make sure those obligations are met.

With respect to jobs and the footprint with regard to Cedar Tree, those are legal obligations under the Investment Canada Act, and we will make sure that it follows through on those obligations.

[Foreign Investment, December 13th, 2019]

Mr. Speaker, this is obviously a very important issue and the safety and well-being of seniors is of the utmost priority. As the member knows, the provincial government in British Columbia is responsible for health care, and it has put forward a rigorous standard of care on all operators.

With respect to the Investment Canada Act, which I am responsible for, we are monitoring and making sure that those obligations are met and we will take swift actions if those obligations are not met.

[Ethics, December 13th, 2019]

Mr. Speaker, the leader of the NDP is asking about our government's agenda. It is focused on the middle class. Since 2015, we have seen over one million jobs created and that is because we are building partnerships with the private sector to bring in foreign direct investment.

That is why we are also addressing the concerns of middle-class Canadians by investing in measures like the Canada child benefit. It has helped lift 300,000 kids out of poverty and overall we have seen a reduction and 900,000 individuals have lifted themselves out of poverty. That is our track record.

[International Trade, December 12th, 2019]

Mr. Speaker, we have always supported the auto workers and the auto sector. Investments by this government of $440 million have leveraged over $6 billion of investments in the automotive sector since 2015. In the first three years of our mandate, we have seen the creation of 10,000 new jobs in the automotive sector because we turned the corner, as opposed to the Conservative government. In its first three years, it lost 20,000 jobs before the recession even hit.

With respect to the new NAFTA, the rules of origin will provide more opportunities for the Canadian supply chain, because more of those parts will be sourced locally.

[Telecommunications Industry, December 6th, 2019]

Mr. Speaker, that is a very thoughtful question on an issue that we campaigned on. We were very clear that we are going to reduce cellphone bills by 25%, and this is above and beyond the actions we have taken to help consumers. We brought forward a policy directive that makes it very clear to CRTC to make affordability front and centre. We have also dealt with consumer-related issues when it comes to high-pressure sales tactics, which has led to a new wireless code of conduct, as well as an Internet code of conduct.

We are going to remain committed to making sure that we use spectrum in a strategic way to help consumers.