I was saying that there is pressure to reduce corporate income tax rates. However, it is far from certain that simply emulating U.S. policy is the right approach for Canada.
Here are some of the measures Canada should put forward to ensure its continued economic and social development. In response to U.S. tax reforms, the government should ensure that Canada continues to be a welcoming place for immigrants, particularly since we are experiencing a labour shortage; adopt measures to foster increased participation of underrepresented groups in the labour force; invest more in labour force training and education; and provide adequate funding to the public health system.
The CSN feels that the federal government’s decision to buy the Trans Mountain pipeline from Kinder Morgan is incompatible with the pledges it made at the Paris climate conference to fight climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. The CSN also feels that there are further inconsistencies in the government's approach since this purchase involves the transfer of public funds to an oil company, whereas substantial investments should be being made in the renewable energy sector. What is more, this decision flies in the face of opposition from the Government of British Columbia and a number of civil society groups. For all of these reasons, the CSN believes that the government must stop encouraging increased production of petroleum products from the oil sands and invest in other sources of energy.
Print media are experiencing a crisis that is having a significant impact on our democratic life. Together with the Fédération nationale des communications, the CSN is requesting the following: access to the Canada periodical fund for daily newspapers, tax credits equivalent to 30% of salary expenditures for print media, and the establishment of a fund for the continued existence of information production. The government must implement measures to support print media.
We are in Quebec's national capital. The Davie shipyard is just across the way. It is very beautiful. I invite you to go to Lévis to see it. The Harper government ignored Quebec when it awarded $35 billion in contracts to build vessels for the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Coast Guard, even though the Davie shipyard in Lévis was fully qualified to obtain a share of those contracts.
Steps have been taken to ensure the continued existence of the Davie shipyard, but much more needs to be done. There have been massive job losses and a lot of expertise has been lost that we will never get back. The Trudeau government should stop making the same mistake as the previous government and recognize the Davie shipyard in the national shipbuilding strategy.
That is the end of my presentation.