Debates of Oct. 6th, 2025

Canada-U.S. Relations

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, surely after promising to negotiate a win, to have a deal by July 21, the Prime Minister is not flying all the way to Washington, D.C., just to have lunch. By the sounds of it, that is all the Liberals are going to accomplish. Since he promised this win, American tariffs on Canada have doubled.

The Prime Minister has caved on countertariffs, on the digital services tax and on everything else. As a result of his weakness, 86,000 Canadians have lost their jobs. Surely, the Prime Minister will finally keep his promise and come home with a win. What will it be?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is currently in the best position of any major trading ally of the United States, but we have said consistently that we have work to do with our American partners on sectoral tariffs. We have work to do in building an economy in North America that is in the interests of Canadian businesses and Canadian workers. That is exactly the conversation the Prime Minister will have with the president.

Was the Leader of the Opposition suggesting that, if the President of the United States invites us to go to Washington for a meeting and a working lunch, we should have just said no and hung up the phone?

[Pierre Poilievre, Conservative, Leader of the Opposition]

Mr. Speaker, no. We are suggesting that the Prime Minister actually keep his promise and negotiate a win.

The Liberals' excuses are tripping over each other. Last week, the Prime Minister said that the American tariffs on Canada are so bad that they are why we have the fastest-shrinking economy in the G7, the second-highest unemployment, $52 billion of net investment that has fled and 86,000 jobs that have been lost. Now the Liberals are saying that we have the best possible position. Which is it?

Why is our economy so bad? Is it because of failed Liberal diplomacy on trade or bad economic management at home?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions]

Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we never talk down our workers, we never talk down our industries, and we never talk down our economy.

Let me talk to the House about good news: 500 new jobs at Hitachi in Varennes, Quebec; 150 jobs at Alstom in Saint-Bruno-de-Montarville, Quebec; 400 new jobs in Kitimat at Cedar LNG; 500 new jobs at Ferrero in Brantford, Ontario, and who does not like Nutella; and 460 jobs at Stemcell Technologies in Burnaby.

We will continue to build Canada strong.

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, we commend the Prime Minister on his visit to Washington. We asked for it. It was time. More importantly, however, it is time he kept his election promise to make some gains for Quebec's economy. So far, it has been nothing but one concession after another.

He capitulated on the digital services tax. He dropped the global minimum tax on the American tech giants. Talks are even being held to allow more U.S. milk into the country. Despite all these concessions, not only did Quebec get nothing out of the bargain, but Donald Trump has increased tariffs on our lumber.

When will we see some progress for Quebec?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade]

Mr. Speaker, as I said in an answer a few moments ago, the Prime Minister will be travelling to Washington later today for a working session in the Oval Office at the invitation of the U.S. President.

Obviously, we intend to discuss the issues just raised by our Bloc Québécois colleague. We are deeply concerned about the tariffs on the softwood lumber industry. We discussed other sectors, like steel, aluminum and automobiles. These are exactly the kinds of discussions we are going to have with our American partners. We are going to keep doing whatever work it takes to get there.

[Christine Normandin, Bloc, Saint-Jean, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister announced that he was going to focus on discussions about steel. Steel is important, but Quebec's aluminum and forestry sectors are important too.

Not only is the Prime Minister not addressing these issues in his discussions, but the federal aid announced in August for the forestry industry is still not available. While he is in Washington, the Prime Minister needs to talk about aluminum and lumber. However, in the meantime, here in Ottawa, could he at least release the financial assistance he promised for Quebec's forestry industry?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions]

Mr. Speaker, we will always be there for our various industries in Canada and in Quebec in particular.

We will be there for our workers, yes, in steel, but also in aluminum, softwood lumber and, of course, the auto sector. We will be there for all our workers. In fact, we have a number of funds available for industries in those sectors. We are also in talks with officials in those various sectors.

I would be pleased to work with my colleague, whom I hold in high regard, to come up with solutions on the softwood lumber issue.

Transportation

[Xavier Barsalou-Duval, Bloc, Pierre-Boucher—Les Patriotes—Verchères, QC]

Mr. Speaker, there is a public danger on our roads because of the Driver Inc. scam. It mainly involves immigrant truck drivers in Ontario who are being exploited by companies to save costs and who are driving heavy trucks without the proper qualifications. This is causing fatal accidents. Vulnerable people are being abused, and truck drivers who follow the rules are facing illegal competition.

Ottawa must launch an investigation, tighten the screws on businesses, and prohibit temporary immigrants from incorporating. It is simple. There are 10 steps to take, but the federal government is looking the other way.

When will the government crack down on dangerous drivers?

[Patty Hajdu, Liberal, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, out government knows that truck drivers move our economy forward and deserve all the protections provided by the Canada Labour Code.

That is why we have created a specialized inspection team that has already conducted more than 100,000 inspections and awareness-raising activities in the sector. We will rigorously enforce the law by working with the Canada Revenue Agency and the provinces to combat misclassification and ensure that drivers receive the rights and benefits to which they are entitled.

Canada-U.S. Relations

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK]

Mr. Speaker, for those of us keeping score at home, the Prime Minister is oh for three. He promised to negotiate a win with Trump by July 21. There is still no deal and tariffs are actually higher. He promised it would be elbows up, but then he quietly dropped countertariffs, and what did he get in return? He got nothing. He promised Canada would have the fastest-growing economy in the G7, instead it is the fastest shrinking. The 86,000 Canadians who have lost their jobs since he took office cannot afford to wait for the Prime Minister to get through this slump.

When the Prime Minister comes home from Washington this week, will he have a deal to eliminate all U.S. tariffs, or is that promise just stuff he said during the election?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Finance and National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, I know it is Monday, but I already have good news for the week.

Canadians understand that the world is changing. We need to adapt, and we have a generational opportunity to invest in Canada. This morning, we announced a new capital formation budgeting framework. In the new budget cycle, my colleagues will be happy because it is going to give them more clarity to see the budget expenditures. It is going to provide more predictability to provinces, territories and businesses and, best of all, it is going to allow more opportunities to align with the budget season. Let us build a—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Regina—Qu'Appelle.

[Andrew Scheer, Conservative, Regina—Qu'Appelle, SK]

Mr. Speaker, changing the date Canadians are told how bad inflation and deficits are going to be is not going to give comfort to anybody.

The Liberals have to get their stories straight. When they are asked about job losses here at home, they say they are all because of U.S. tariffs. When they are asked why the Prime Minister cannot get a win on those tariffs, they say that Canada already has the best deal and that those tariffs do not apply to most goods. Both of those excuses cannot be true at the same time.

Here is what is true: The deficit here has doubled; Canada has the second-highest unemployment in the G7; and 86,000 people have lost their jobs.

What is the reason? Is it the Prime Minister's failed trade diplomacy abroad or his failed economic policies at home?

[Dominic LeBlanc, Liberal, President of the King’s Privy Council for Canada and Minister responsible for Canada-U.S. Trade]

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, we remember the Conservatives standing up in the House with manufactured indignation that the Prime Minister should be talking to the president every day and the Prime Minister should be in Washington, asking why has he not been in Washington.

The good news is that the Prime Minister and the president speak frequently. They are in touch on a whole series of international issues, the most important of which is, obviously, the Canadian economy, Canadian workers and Canadian jobs. That is why we are looking forward to discussing those exact issues in the Oval Office tomorrow with the president.

[Shelby Kramp-Neuman, Conservative, Hastings—Lennox and Addington—Tyendinaga, ON]

Mr. Speaker, today is the day. As the Prime Minister heads to Washington, Canadians are watching closely. After a string of failures, including the doubling of tariffs on Canadian goods and repeated missed deadlines on his promises to negotiate a win for Canada, expectations could not be higher.

For months, the Prime Minister has talked a big game but has delivered nothing when it matters most. Will he finally keep his word, deliver a real win for Canada, and secure the removal of U.S. tariffs?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions]

Mr. Speaker, we will always stand up for our workers and our industries. That is why, when it comes to the different sectors that are being tariffed, we are there to support them.

This morning, I was on the phone with the CEO of Dofasco, making sure that we are there for our steelworkers. We were also working with Algoma Steel over the weekend, and there is good news. Irving shipyard will now be buying steel from Algoma in Ontario.

This is what it is to build Canada strong.

[Shelby Kramp-Neuman, Conservative, Hastings—Lennox and Addington—Tyendinaga, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the government's message on the economy has been all over the place. On the one hand, it blames U.S. tariffs for Canadians' shrinking economy, while on the other, it boasts about the best trade deal with the U.S. The facts tell a different story. The deficit has doubled. Canada has the second-highest unemployment rate and the fastest-shrinking economy in the G7, with $54 billion in investment having fled. There are also 86,000 people out of work.

Is this bleak reality the result of the Prime Minister's failed economic policies here at home, his failure to secure results abroad, or both?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, we are focused on building a very strong bilateral relationship. I ask my colleague opposite if it is a failure when we support our auto industry, if it is a failure when we support steel, if it is a failure when we support aluminum.

We beg to differ. We are diversifying our trade routes. We are building strong bilateral relationships across the world, including with the United States.

On this side of the House, we will always fight for Canada.

Long live Canada.

Automotive Industry

[Jamil Jivani, Conservative, Bowmanville—Oshawa North, ON]

Mr. Speaker, GM is eliminating thousands of jobs in Oshawa, and Stellantis has idled its Windsor plant while sending $10 billion to the United States. Families across Ontario are rightly concerned that the Prime Minister has no plan for Canadian auto and no plan for impacted workers.

Will the Prime Minister bring home a deal for Canadian auto that eliminates U.S. tariffs?

[Mélanie Joly, Liberal, Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions]

Mr. Speaker, we have been actively engaged with all the CEOs of the D3, that is Stellantis, GM and, of course, Ford, as well as with Honda and Toyota. We have put in place a remission system to make sure that they would be able to continue their operations and create jobs. We know that the auto sector is facing a challenge. That is why we are also engaging with Unifor and the different labour unions. At the same time, we now have a very important fund of $5 billion to help these plans.

We will be there for our auto sector.

Canada-U.S. Relations

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L’Érable—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the wait is over. Tomorrow will be a big day for the Liberal Prime Minister.

Tomorrow, the Prime Minister will finally keep his promise to “negotiate a win” for Canada. Tomorrow, tariffs on steel, aluminum, automobiles and softwood lumber will come down, because that is what the Prime Minister promised. The Prime Minister was encouraged to keep his promise to negotiate a win with the United States by July 21, but he broke that promise. His big strategy was to kowtow to the U.S. President, and the tariffs doubled.

Tomorrow, will the Prime Minister finally keep his promise to negotiate a win and eliminate all U.S. tariffs in Canada?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Finance and National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, today is a great day. Canadians understand that the world has changed and that we need to adapt. We need to focus on capital investments.

That is why we introduced a new fiscal framework that focuses on capital investments and sets the record straight given the budget cycle. That is very good news. This will give my colleagues some clarity so they can review the measures in the budget. This will deliver more predictability for businesses, provinces and associations that depend on federal funding. This will create more opportunities for construction in this country.

I am sure that the Conservatives will celebrate the fact that we are going to build Canada strong.

[Luc Berthold, Conservative, Mégantic—L’Érable—Lotbinière, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I want to talk about Liberal clarity on the economy.

On the one hand, the Liberals claim that the collapse of Canada's economy, the worst performing in the G7, is due to tariffs. On the other hand, they say they have reached an excellent agreement on tariffs.

What do the real numbers say? They say that the deficit has doubled, that Canada is the G7 economy with the sharpest contraction, that Canada ranks second to last in terms of unemployment, that the country has bled $54 billion in net investment and that 86,000 people have lost their jobs.

Is the Prime Minister a bad diplomat, a bad economist for the country or just plain bad?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Minister of Finance and National Revenue]

Mr. Speaker, listening to the Conservatives is disheartening. What they are not telling Canadians is that Canada is in an enviable position among the G7 countries. Canada has the lowest debt-to-GDP ratio and the lowest deficit-to-GDP ratio. It is also one of only two G7 countries, the other being Germany, to have an AAA credit rating.

Instead of criticizing the Canadian economy, my colleague should be celebrating the fact that we are building together, that we are making generational investments and that we are building Canada strong. On this side of the House, we will fight for workers, fight for the economy and fight for Canada.