Debates of Nov. 21st, 2025

International Trade

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Mr. Speaker, in a mere eight months, the globe-trotting Prime Minister has circumnavigated the globe four times. It would not be so bad if he actually delivered some results for Canadians, but every time he meets with a world leader, things get worse. When he met with the Premier of China, China slapped canola tariffs on Canadian farmers. When he met with the Prime Minister of India, India slapped fees on peas. He has met with the U.S. President many times, and tariffs have only gone up. Every time the Prime Minister gets near a plane, Canadian farmers clutch their wallets in panic.

If all his travel results in worse conditions for Canadians, why does he keep doing it?

[Evan Solomon, Liberal, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, it is very worrying that the opposition seems to exhibit such a fear of flying, but it is even more worrying that they exhibit a fear of building.

The Prime Minister went to the U.A.E. and brought back a $1-billion deal to build our critical minerals sector and $70 billion of investment to build our country. That is exactly what we are doing.

It turns out that our plan is an excellent cure for the opposition's fear of building.

[Kyle Seeback, Conservative, Dufferin—Caledon, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister actually got a letter that could maybe deliver $1 billion someday. Meanwhile, the effect of tariffs on canola is $4.5 billion a year. The effect of tariffs on peas is $1 billion a year. We have a $1-trillion trade arrangement with the United States, and our steel industry, our aluminum industry, our auto sector and our softwood lumber industry are getting absolutely decimated while he flies around and brings back this tiny, paltry deal. It is like bragging about the Blue Jays beating a little league team 15-1.

If the result of all the Prime Minister's travel is only making things worse for Canadians, why not just stay home?

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

Mr. Speaker, Canada's a proud trading nation, and the way we have been able to build that proud tradition of trading around the world and build prosperity in this country is by actually going to other parts of the world and building those relationships. That is precisely what the Prime Minister is doing.

In fact, just yesterday, the government of the United Arab Emirates decided to invest $70 billion in Canada. That is investment in our communities, creating well-paying jobs, and that is just the beginning. That is the work the Prime Minister is doing, and we will continue to do that work.

[Carol Anstey, Conservative, Long Range Mountains, NL]

Mr. Speaker, do members remember “elbows up”? Well, the only thing up right now is the Prime Minister's air miles. He has flown enough kilometres to circle the earth four times, but after all that globetrotting, Canadians still get no deals, no relief, higher tariffs and higher bills. Every time the Prime Minister steps off a private jet, Canadians get hit with another tariff hike. After the U.S., there were higher tariffs. After China, there were new tariffs on seafood and grain.

Why is it that every time the Prime Minister meets foreign leaders, Canadians get stuck paying for his failures through higher tariffs?

[Evan Solomon, Liberal, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, the Conservatives have to learn to take yes for an answer. The Prime Minister was in the U.A.E. and its leadership said yes to Canada, investing $1 billion in our critical minerals sector, with $70 billion of investment coming to Canada.

In fact, the Premier of Saskatchewan, Scott Moe, supports this. Scott Moe said, “we welcome Prime Minister Carney's efforts to raise Canada's credibility in the international sphere”.

It is time for the opposition to join us and build Canada.

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, John Nater]

I will remind the hon. minister not to use the proper name of the Prime Minister in the House.

The hon. member for Long Range Mountains.

[Carol Anstey, Conservative, Long Range Mountains, NL]

Mr. Speaker, the hollow letter of intent does not change the facts: The Prime Minister has flown to meet with the Brits in the U.K., a world tour of photo ops and selfies, and Canadians have absolutely nothing to show for it. There have been no wins on tariffs, just more tariffs every single time he travels. He promised his jet-setting diplomacy would help Canadians; all it has done is help his Instagram feed.

Will the Prime Minister finally admit that his international photo op tours are not delivering results, because the only thing going up when he travels is the cost to Canadians?

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

Mr. Speaker, in mere months since this new government has been elected, we have signed a comprehensive trade agreement with Indonesia. The Prime Minister was just in the United Arab Emirates, and he has signed an agreement to protect our investors so that more investments could be made right here in Canada. In fact, we have launched a new trade agreement with the United Arab Emirates as well.

Here is the result: Just yesterday, the United Arab Emirates decided to invest $70 billion in our country. That is jobs in all our communities. The Conservatives need to accept these wins, which are building Canada strong.

The Economy

[Gabriel Hardy, Conservative, Montmorency—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Speaker, every time the Prime Minister travels, Canadians hope that he will come back with results, whether it be lower tariffs, meaningful agreements with immediate effects, or gains for our workers. However, every time he has travelled, whether to the United States, China, or India, the only thing he has brought back is increased tariffs and bigger bills for Canadians.

How come every time the Prime Minister boards a plane, tariffs go up? Has it not occurred to him to stay in the country, lower tariffs and lower gas taxes so that Canadian families can finally afford a good life?

[Evan Solomon, Liberal, Minister of Artificial Intelligence and Digital Innovation and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario]

Mr. Speaker, there is a lot of good news here.

The Prime Minister went to the United Arab Emirates.

The Prime Minister brought back an extraordinary deal: $1 billion for our critical minerals sector. Let us think about that. There is $70 billion in investment to build Canadian infrastructure and good jobs here in Canada. That goes along with our plan to build affordable homes and invest in our defence sector.

I do not know why the opposition cannot take “yes” for an answer.

[Gabriel Hardy, Conservative, Montmorency—Charlevoix, QC]

Mr. Speaker, it seems that every time the Prime Minister flies abroad, his Brookfield colleagues are never far behind. In New York City, Brookfield was there. In Seoul and in Singapore, Brookfield was waiting for him. This week in the UAE, Brookfield made a major announcement in the same sectors of activity that the Prime Minister says he wants to negotiate. While these coincidences keep piling up, one thing remains consistent: The tariffs imposed on Canada go up.

Would the Prime Minister have the decency to send his travel claims to Brookfield? Clearly, Brookfield is the only one benefiting from his trips.

[Kevin Lamoureux, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Leader of the Government in the House of Commons]

Mr. Speaker, it is truly amazing. The Conservatives need to refocus their questions.

Quite frankly, when it comes to trade and building Canada strong, we have to look at exports that go beyond the United States. Whether it is with Indonesia, Korea, the Philippines or the United Arab Emirates, the Prime Minister is working hard for Canadians every day to expand trade opportunities. That will mean hundreds of millions of dollars in exports.

That is a positive thing. They should be supporting that instead of asking ridiculous questions today.

Climate Change

[Alexis Deschênes, Bloc, Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister loves to travel, yet he snubbed the UN climate change conference in Brazil. He chose not to show his face, meanwhile Canada was being criticized by the entire planet for its environmental backtracking. Canada won the fossil of the day award, a disgrace worthy of the oil monarchies.

Canada was also ranked 61 out of 67 countries for its poor climate performance, proving that just when we think the country has hit rock bottom, it can still sink lower.

Why are the Liberals abandoning the fight against climate change?

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, Canada remains committed to the Paris Agreement and the goal of net-zero emissions by 2050. Domestically, the Canadian economy has grown while becoming significantly less carbon-intensive thanks to cleaner energy, better technologies and innovation.

Our climate competitiveness strategy builds on this progress and positions Canadian businesses to play a leading role in the global transition to net-zero emissions.

We are moving forward.

[Alexis Deschênes, Bloc, Gaspésie—Les Îles-de-la-Madeleine—Listuguj, QC]

Mr. Speaker, no, they are not making any progress in the fight against climate change.

While Canada places far down the list of the world's worst performing countries, the Liberals are trying to sink it even lower. At the very moment that Canada was disgraced in front of the whole world at COP30, the Liberals were negotiating with Alberta to build another pipeline for western oil. As if investing $34 billion of public money in the Trans Mountain pipeline was not enough, they want another one.

When will the Liberals stop pandering to the voracious greed of oil billionaires?

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, as we did this week, Canada continues to play a constructive and collaborative role. The Canadian delegation attended COP30 with its international counterparts, indigenous communities, other levels of government, civil society, labour groups and other stakeholders to ensure that we move forward from commitment to implementation.

We are therefore going to continue advancing toward our Paris Agreement targets and continue building a low-carbon future that is resilient to climate change.

[Claude DeBellefeuille, Bloc, Beauharnois—Salaberry—Soulanges—Huntingdon, QC]

Mr. Speaker, Quebeckers do not want another Liberal pipeline of dirty western oil. We all remember last summer, when we had the worst air quality in the entire world because of the forest fires. Albertans may have forgotten that Jasper burned, but we have not. We have also not forgotten our produce growers who lose crops almost every year because of abnormal weather patterns.

Climate change is already here. Will the Liberals shut down their new pipeline project?

[Mona Fortier, Liberal, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Foreign Affairs]

Mr. Speaker, we are investing in major projects. We are also making many investments in budget 2025, including a 15% clean electricity investment tax credit available to Crown corporations like Hydro-Québec, as well as $17.2 billion over 10 years for housing- and health-related infrastructure, such as hospitals, universities and CEGEPs.

We will continue to build strong communities by investing $51 billion over 10 years in projects like the Espace Hubert-Reeves in Charlevoix, the shipyard—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, John Nater]

The hon. member for St. Albert—Sturgeon River.

International Trade

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Sturgeon River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is spinning that he negotiated a great deal with the U.A.E. It is such a great deal that the text is nowhere to be found, no details have been provided, and as far as the so-called investment commitments go, there is no timeline.

I have a simple question: On what date can we expect to see the first dollar of investment from the U.A.E.? I would like just a date, please.

[Wayne Long, Liberal, Secretary of State (Canada Revenue Agency and Financial Institutions)]

Mr. Speaker, this may come as a surprise to a party whose leader has never had a job outside the House, but one actually has to travel the global economy to build relationships to bring investment back to this country.

Our side is focused on building the strongest economy in the G7; the other side continues with the bizarre line of questioning about the Prime Minister's travel. Our Prime Minister is focused on building our country, retooling our economy and making our economy the pride of the G7.

[Michael Cooper, Conservative, St. Albert—Sturgeon River, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I asked for a date. There is no date, but rest assured: The government has secured meetings with the U.A.E. next year. What we have is an agreement to talk about a possible agreement sometime in the future. This is more jet-setting, more photo ops and more press releases, with no tangible results for Canadian workers.

Is this the best we can get from the so-called master negotiator?

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

Mr. Speaker, I think it is a great, great day when we hear that a foreign government is deciding to invest $70 billion in our economy. We are talking about AI, infrastructure and agriculture to create those jobs. This is about making sure we can leverage its sovereign funds and our pension funds to create opportunities for our economy right here at home.

There are companies like Mila, which is launching a new partnership with the U.A.E.'s Technology Innovation Institute; BlackBerry, which has signed a partnership with the U.A.E'.s Cyber Security Council to strengthen cybersecurity co-operation infrastructure; and Invest in Canada, which is working to partner with the U.A.E. and to identify and explore large-scale investments right—

[The Assistant Deputy Speaker, John Nater]

The hon. member for York—Durham.