Debates of Oct. 9th, 2025

Justice

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, yesterday, the minister accused us of distorting his words. He is the one who referred to the Russian invasion of Ukraine when justifying his opposition to the notwithstanding clause, not me. He is the one who sent a factum to the Supreme Court in which he used slavery and summary executions as arguments, not me. He is the one who claims that the notwithstanding clause could be used to ban places of worship, abolish trade unions and shut down newspapers.

Frankly, who is distorting reality? Is it the minister or those who defend the notwithstanding clause?

[Sean Fraser, Liberal, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency]

Mr. Speaker, it is imperative that the federal government defend our charters, defend human rights and protect the Constitution.

This case is before the Supreme Court of Canada. It is the federal government's responsibility to intervene to defend the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms and the Constitution. There are no circumstances under which the federal government would not intervene.

It is very important to protect the rights of Canadians now and into the future.

[Rhéal Fortin, Bloc, Rivière-du-Nord, QC]

Mr. Speaker, in the open letter from the five premiers, the signatories point out that the notwithstanding clause allowed for the patriation of the Constitution.

What the Liberals want to do is rewrite history and make Quebec and the provinces fully subject to the federal charter. In short, the Liberals want to erase the 1982 constitutional compromise. This government is using a power grab to weaken the National Assembly of Quebec and the provinces.

Will the minister listen to reason, uphold the notwithstanding clause and stop undermining the parliamentary sovereignty of Quebec and the provinces?

[Steven Guilbeault, Liberal, Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages]

Mr. Speaker, I strongly disagree with what my Bloc Québécois colleague just stated. Our intervention before the Supreme Court is intended to defend Canadians' rights and the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

No part of our intervention before the Supreme Court of Canada will prevent the provinces from continuing to use the notwithstanding clause if they so desire. However, when using the notwithstanding clause results in the violation of Canadians' rights, we want the courts to be able to adjudicate on that.

Forestry Industry

[Ellis Ross, Conservative, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has the fastest-shrinking economy and the second-highest unemployment rate in the G7.

B.C. forestry workers have already been hard hit, but it is going to get worse. The Prime Minister promised to negotiate a win with the U.S.A, but softwood lumber tariffs have doubled since he took office. Instead of keeping his promise to Canadians, he is promising to invest $1 trillion in the U.S. economy.

How many more B.C. lumber workers will lose their jobs because of the Prime Minister's failures?

[Corey Hogan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, we have been very clear that the tariffs are unjustified. We are working at every level to address them.

We have created $50 million in supports for workers. We have created $700 million in liquidity support for companies and $500 million for new markets and new innovations in this sector.

We are going to continue to work to support the forestry sector, and we hope that the Conservatives will get on board.

[Ellis Ross, Conservative, Skeena—Bulkley Valley, BC]

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government cannot make up its mind. On one hand, it says it is unjust, and then it says it is the greatest deal in the world. It needs to make up its mind.

There are mills closing all across B.C., including Skeena Sawmills in Terrace and Canfor in Houston. West Fraser's shutdown left hundreds of my constituents out of work in an already weak economy. Our communities are hurting. Since the Prime Minister took office, softwood lumber tariffs have doubled, putting even more Canadian jobs and communities at risk.

When will the Prime Minister do what he promised and stand up for our forestry mills and for the communities and families who depend on these jobs?

[Corey Hogan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, we will always stand with the workers and the affected communities, which is why we continue to invest and will do so in the future as well.

There are significant difficulties with the long-standing softwood lumber dispute, but those are difficulties we are addressing head on. We are working at every level to challenge them. We are doing that with the support of the whole Canadian economy. We are finding that we can leverage innovative new ways to make sure that we can get the best deal possible for our lumber sector.

[Gaétan Malette, Conservative, Kapuskasing—Timmins—Mushkegowuk, ON]

Mr. Speaker, people in northern Ontario and Canada urgently need the government to address the impact of U.S. lumber tariffs.

The Liberal government is failing sawmill workers, and the situation is only getting worse. The Prime Minister promised to negotiate a deal with the Americans, yet forestry and sawmill workers in Calstock, Hearst, Cochrane, Chapleau, Kirkland Lake and all across Canada are facing the real prospect of losing their jobs.

What is in place does not work. Why is the Prime Minister selling out our sawmill workers in northern Ontario and—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. Minister of Jobs and Families.

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

Mr. Speaker, I am no stranger to communities that struggle when industries are struck. I am from northern Ontario as well.

The difference between those in our government and the members opposite is that we step up for workers when they are struggling, whether it is through EI reforms, investment in companies so they could actually transition or work sharing to get a company through a tough time so that it can see a brighter future. This is some of the work we do on this side with companies every single day.

[Jim Belanger, Conservative, Sudbury East—Manitoulin—Nickel Belt, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canada now has the fastest-shrinking economy in the G7 and the second-highest unemployment rate. It is looking worse for lumber and mill workers in northern Ontario. The Prime Minister promised to negotiate a win, but softwood lumber workers are being sold out with no deal.

Why is the Prime Minister breaking his promise and selling out Canadian mill workers?

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

Mr. Speaker, this is a great time for me to highlight the incredible work of FedNor, the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario, which works with organizations across northern Ontario, and has for years, to make sure that as industries change, as times change and as products change, companies have what they need to grow and adapt.

We have invested millions of dollars in the softwood lumber industry and the lumber industry in general. We will be there for workers. We will be there for companies. Canadians know they can trust us, unlike those folks.

[Dan Albas, Conservative, Okanagan Lake West—South Kelowna, BC]

Mr. Speaker, Canada is breaking records with the fastest-shrinking economy in the G7 and the second-highest unemployment. If failure was an Olympic sport, the government would own the podium.

The Prime Minister came to West Kelowna, held a press conference and promised to negotiate a win on softwood lumber. He even said Canada would “write our own story”. Well, his story so far is that tariffs have doubled, mills have closed, hundreds of people are out of work and their families have been sold out by the government in places like Grand Forks.

If this is the story the Prime Minister wanted to write, was the title he had in mind “How to Fail Big”?

[Corey Hogan, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources]

Mr. Speaker, Canada does write its own story, and that is a story that includes buying Canadian and buying Canadian lumber to build Canadian homes. It is a story that includes $50 million in income supports for workers. It is a story that includes $700 million in liquidity support and $500 million for innovation in the forestry sector.

This is a pretty good story, and I hope they will help us write it.

Foreign Affairs

[Amandeep Sodhi, Liberal, Brampton Centre, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has long been renowned for its strong advocacy for multilateralism on the international stage. During Canada's historic presidency of the G7 at this turbulent time, our government has been committed to continuing this tradition.

Could the Minister of Foreign Affairs update the House on how Canada's diplomatic efforts are driving prosperity, creating good jobs and strengthening our position in the global economy?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, every country with which I am speaking wants more of Canada. In fact, in the G20, Canada is ranked among the top two destinations for foreign direct investment. We are the only country in the world that has a free trade agreement with every other G7 country.

We are forging new relationships in the Indo-Pacific, in Europe and in Africa. We will not stop until we get the best deal for Canada, and all along the way, we will stand up for our—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Oshawa.

Automotive Industry

[Rhonda Kirkland, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in the G7, Canada has the fastest-shrinking economy and the second-highest unemployment, and it is only getting worse for auto workers, like the ones in my hometown, Oshawa. The Prime Minister promised to protect Canadian auto workers, yet one day after his trip to Washington, the Trump administration confirmed no relief on auto tariffs and a promised $1 trillion for the U.S.

Why is the Prime Minister selling out auto workers and families in Oshawa?

[Yasir Naqvi, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade and to the Secretary of State (International Development)]

Mr. Speaker, I am sure members opposite and all members of the House are well aware that we are in a major moment of transformation. The economy around the world is changing. This is why we are going to continue to work to get the best deal for Canadians, including Canadian auto workers, through the U.S. However, we are not stopping there. We are also working around the world to create new markets for Canadian auto workers to make sure we are signing new deals with countries in ASEAN and countries in Mercosur, because that is how we are going to make sure Canada remains strong and Canadian workers have good-paying jobs.

[Rhonda Kirkland, Conservative, Oshawa, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is clear that the only auto workers these Liberals stand with are U.S. auto workers.

This is personal. These are good, livable jobs that help families find homes, raise kids and retire with dignity. They have done everything right, and now they are being told that their jobs do not matter.

These losses are the direct result of the Prime Minister's failure to stand up for Canada's auto workers even though he promised to do that. How can families in Oshawa and across Canada ever trust the Prime Minister again?

[Yasir Naqvi, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of International Trade and to the Secretary of State (International Development)]

Mr. Speaker, this government will never let Canadian auto workers down. We will not let any workers down. We will work day and night to make sure that the Canadian auto industry remains one of the best success stories. That is why, as we speak, the Minister of Canada-U.S. relations is down in Washington working hard to negotiate a deal that is right for Canadian workers. That is why the Minister of International Trade is in Africa to make sure that we have opportunities in other parts of the world.

We will continue to do this work so that Canadian workers have good-paying jobs right here in Canada.

[Tony Baldinelli, Conservative, Niagara Falls—Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON]

Mr. Speaker, Canada has the fastest-shrinking economy in the G7 and the second-highest unemployment levels. If we listen to the U.S. commerce secretary, it is only going to get worse for auto workers, including those at the local GM plant in St. Catharines.

In May, GM announced its largest investment ever in an engine plant just across the border from us in Tonawanda, New York. Meanwhile, it was crickets in St. Catharines.

Why is the Liberal Prime Minister so hell-bent on selling out our hard-working Canadian auto workers?

[Anita Anand, Liberal, Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, we are making unprecedented investments in our auto sector, with a $5-billion strategic response fund, for example, and all the while, we are making sure that workers are supported. The company NextStar has committed to hiring 2,500 workers and has just hired its 1,000th worker.

As an MP with the Ford Motor Company in their backyard, let me tell members that we are here for workers, we are here for the auto sector and we will get the best deal for our country.

[Tony Baldinelli, Conservative, Niagara Falls—Niagara-on-the-Lake, ON]

Mr. Speaker, General Motors has had a presence in St. Catharines since 1929, nearly 100 years. If the Liberal government does not act, it might not reach the century mark. As billions of dollars flee Canada for the U.S., Canadian auto workers are watching in dismay as their Prime Minister offers up their jobs to the Trump administration, and for what, a free lunch?

When will the Liberal Prime Minister stop selling out our Canadian auto workers, or has he already concluded that their jobs are motoring to the United States?