Industry and Technology Committee on Dec. 10th, 2025

[The Chair, Liberal, Ben Carr]

Thank you, Mr. Ste‑Marie.

Mr. Patzer, welcome to the industry committee.

The floor is yours, and you have five minutes.

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley, SK]

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's great to be back.

Minister, I have a quick question for you.

Is this contract with Stellantis, SIF agreement number 813-816251, a usual contract?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

I'm a lawyer, so how do you want to define usual?

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley, SK]

Your department said that this is a standard contract that they use regularly, with maybe a few tweaks and modifications here and there. We were told that this is a standard contract, so is this a standard contract?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

In my experience—I have been practising law, or I have been qualified, for a number of decades now—what I find in this contract is certainly what you would expect in the contracts you see with the auto sector and beyond. We've added a number of provisions and covenants, particularly the connection between this agreement and the NextStar agreement. This is going beyond what you normally see.

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley, SK]

How many other contracts like this have you handed out?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Certainly, there is the one with Volkswagen. There is one with Honda, and there are the ones that have been entered into during my time as industry minister. There was also one in Bécancour. I've seen all of them.

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley, SK]

I recognize you're not the industry minister anymore, but what part of this contract is the minister using to sue Stellantis? She said she's suing them, so what clause is she using to sue them?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

There's a clause about remedy, which you need to first—

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley, SK]

I've read it.

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Yes, exactly.

There's a section about remedy, which calls for mediation and arbitration. You need to provide notice of default, and there needs to be a report. It's pretty extensive in terms of the remedies that exist. When you look at that, the uniqueness of this is the interaction between that and the NextStar agreement. The connection between the two is making it robust in terms of protection.

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley, SK]

It's a standard contract where you give money to companies that lay people off. Is that a fair assessment?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

When you say “give money”, there are many precedents that have to be met. If you're looking at this one in particular....

I just want to help you. Like I said, $40 million—

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley, SK]

I'm sorry. Here's the key, though. Here's the key really quickly. I don't need your help. We don't need your help. The workers at Stellantis needed your help. Over 3,000 people lost their jobs. They needed your help. You failed them. This contract failed them. That's the point you're missing, and that you're not picking up here.

I'm going to give the rest of my time to Mrs. Borrelli.

[Kathy Borrelli, Conservative, Windsor—Tecumseh—Lakeshore, ON]

Minister, we've been asking for the terms of the contract for a very long time. They have been hidden from us. Vital information has been held from Canadians. Please tell me what else you are hiding from the auto workers of Windsor, from Unifor members and from the people whose livelihoods depend on the agreements you make and depend on your being transparent?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

That's a tenet of democracy. I'm here in front of you today to answer all the questions you may have. To the comments of your colleagues before, I can tell you I've met a number of the union workers. I can tell you that they know that we fought nail and tooth to make sure. What you're not appreciating is how much we had to force and negotiate to have a clause with respect to Brampton.

I would say, since you were not there, I appreciate your point of view. You're entitled to your opinion, but you're not entitled to your own facts. We fought to keep Brampton. Look at this section on Brampton—

[Kathy Borrelli, Conservative, Windsor—Tecumseh—Lakeshore, ON]

Thank you, Minister.

Obviously, you didn't fight hard enough because 3,000 people lost their jobs in Brampton.

I'd like everyone to take a minute and sit with what the minister just said. After the rise in the cost of living, job loss, taxpayer money being spent recklessly and a message of sacrifice instead of hope for Canadians, the minister truly believes his government is doing enough. For all the Canadians watching at home today who are hoping that this government fights for them, speaking with the minister today we can clearly see that the minister and his government are simply not up for the job.

[Dominique O'Rourke, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

I have a point of order, Mr. Chair. I don't believe that's the—

[The Chair, Liberal, Ben Carr]

I'm sorry, Ms. Borrelli. It's a point of order. You know I must address it.

Madame O'Rourke, go ahead on a point of order.

[Jeremy Patzer, Conservative, Swift Current—Grasslands—Kindersley, SK]

It's not a point of order.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ben Carr]

I haven't heard it yet, guys. You're not in the chair, so give me one second to hear it. I'll make a ruling and then we'll come back to our line of questioning.

[Dominique O'Rourke, Liberal, Guelph, ON]

I believe that MP Borrelli is misrepresenting what the minister just said to this committee. It's not appropriate.

[The Chair, Liberal, Ben Carr]

I think I'm going to just allow us to continue the line of questioning here, Madame O'Rourke. I'm not sure I heard anything that would suggest there's a necessity for me to intervene beyond that at the moment.

Ms. Borrelli, the clock says 31 seconds.

[Kathy Borrelli, Conservative, Windsor—Tecumseh—Lakeshore, ON]

I'd like to ask the minister one question.

Sir, are you proud of yourself and the contract you made with Stellantis?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Madam, maybe the difference between you and I...since I've served Canadians, I always do that with humility, with empathy and authenticity. I would say today in front of Canadians that they can see what this committee is all about. If you want the truth and the facts, I'm happy to be here. If you want to come here and question my character, I'll let Canadians judge that.