Industry Committee on May 8th, 2024

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

We are working on both.

I was just saying that, in the beginning, that's what we did because action was urgently needed. For example, we discussed green propulsion technology with the people at Pratt & Whitney Canada. I'm also speaking with the people at Héroux‑Devtek, Airbus and Safran. You said we weren't the third-largest hub anymore, but I'd like to check on that. I think Montreal is still the third-largest hub after Toulouse and Seattle, but I'd be happy to look into it.

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

You don't have a date, then, and you won't be bringing forward a strategy before your mandate ends.

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

We are working on it, but at the same time—

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

Eventually, you have to deliver.

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

Yes, but at the same time, if you talk to those in the aerospace sector—

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

They consistently tell us that they need a strategy.

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

Yes, I'm pleased to do that, and that's why I'm telling them that there will be a strategy and that we are working on it—

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

Again, my question is when we will see it.

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

—but at the same time, we have to support investments.

[Jean-Denis Garon, Bloc, Mirabel, QC]

Thank you, Minister.

[The Chair, Liberal, Joël Lightbound]

Thank you.

We now go to Mr. Masse.

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

The website investontario.ca actually lists the Ontario investments for auto. It's a pretty good site, but it doesn't include all of Canada. I'll pass it on.

I wanted to ask about Statistics Canada, because they're often forgotten. At one point, back in the day, we had a minister who wanted to jail people for not filling out their Stats Canada stuff.

They have a 40% increase in their budget coming up this year. Is that because they're getting ready for another StatsCan...or are we adding something more robust to the information gathering?

A lot of people don't understand that Stats Canada can also determine what amount of money goes into your riding, depending on the measurements of poverty and a whole slew of different things, so it's an important one for MPs.

I'm wondering what's going on in Stats Canada with that type of increase.

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

Thank you for the question. I'm very pleased you asked it.

I think it's to do more, because they're now going to be collecting a certain type of information, and we want to make sure they have the means to do it. Like we said, we're happy to get back to you more specifically on that.

The additional amount is to make sure they will have the means to collect this additional information that we have committed to collecting. I'm happy to get back to you with the specifics of that.

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

That's fine. I don't expect it. I've been here for a while, and there's such a complexity to the files under Industry. I know I get into the weeds a bit with these things, but they're actually very important to our ridings.

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

I may have some that would be of interest to you. I kind of remember them. The deputy will help me. They're around a census for agriculture and a general census, so the additional money....

We also said that in terms of grocery affordability, we need to collect more data, such as food price data. The additional support we're receiving in the budget is about giving Stats Canada the ability or the means to be able to collect additional information.

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

That's excellent to hear, because it is important.

Lastly, and really quickly, Crown copyright in Canada is the distribution of public materials that are produced by the government. We haven't changed that since 1911. The law was actually enacted in 1909. The United States provides this information, as do the U.K. and every other commonwealth country. We are stuck and mired in a system that denies businesses, researchers and everyone the opportunity to have government- and taxpayer-generated information studies and data.

What is your position on Crown copyright? Can we work together to modernize it in Canada? I think 1911 is a bit too stale for us, and we're out of touch with our U.S. neighbours on this.

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

Mr. Chair, when the committee finishes Bill C-27, we'll have ample time to look at all these questions. To your point, Mr. Masse, yes, I'm open to looking at that, to be honest. It's one of these things.

I may just say—and I know it's not Bill C-27—the last time we looked at privacy in this country was before we had Google, Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, so that's why I'm always coming back to the urgency of Bill C-27. I think folks watching at home would be surprised that, today, the law to protect our kids predates most of the social media that exists.

[Brian Masse, NDP, Windsor West, ON]

I happen to have a private member's bill on Crown copyright that you're welcome to steal, and I won't call it fraud.

[Some hon. members]

Oh, oh!

[The Chair, Liberal, Joël Lightbound]

Thank you, Mr. Masse, for those wise words.

Now, we still have about five minutes left, so we'll go to Mr. Vis and Mr. Généreux, but please time yourselves accordingly. We have only five minutes.

Mr. Vis, go ahead.

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Under the departmental plan, under “Companies, Investment and Growth”, the departmental result states, “Canadian businesses and industries are innovative and growing.” Why does the BDC report that Canada has 100,000 fewer entrepreneurs than it did 20 years ago?

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

What I see in this country inspires me. The investment you said...I think we're talking about $46 billion that's been invested since 2020. This is going to have a rippling effect all over. As you know, like you, I care about innovation in this country. I care about small and medium-sized businesses. They're 98%: That's the backbone of our economy. I think that, when you have these anchor investors, it's going to have a rippling effect in the country, and that's what we want to favour.

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC]

Thank you.

The BDC also reports that in the early 2000s, three out of every 1,000 Canadians chose to become an entrepreneur; today that number is 1.3. I as well care a lot about Canadian businesses. That's why I'm so alarmed by Statistics Canada's reports of insolvency numbers of 58.8% year over year from February 2024. How do you respond to so many businesses shutting their doors in Canada?

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

Well, I'm happy that I have an ally when it comes to businesses. I know your background, and it's great.

Let's remember we're at the back of COVID. A lot of companies and industries went through a very tough time. I think we have picked up, because we were there to support them, unlike other countries in the world. They see that we have their backs.

I can tell you that my focus is always on seeing how we can support the wealth creators in this nation, who create wealth but also jobs for many other Canadians.

[Brad Vis, Conservative, Mission—Matsqui—Fraser Canyon, BC]

Thank you.

Going back to the “Companies, Investments and Growth” part of the departmental plan, what ranking would you give your department in respect to their primary goal of helping new start-ups and businesses innovate in Canada?