House of Commons Hansard #66 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was jobs.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Criminal Code First reading of Bill C-258. The bill amends the Criminal Code to address the Supreme Court's R. v. Jordan decision, aiming to prevent sexual assault trials from being dropped due to unmet time limits. 100 words.
An Act to implement the Protocol on the Accession of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership Second reading of Bill C-13. The bill implements the United Kingdom's accession to the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The Liberal government views it as a crucial step for trade diversification beyond the US, creating opportunities for Canadian businesses. Conservatives support free trade but criticize the government for failing to secure fair access for Canadian beef and pork exports to the UK and not addressing frozen British pensions. The Bloc Québécois supports the agreement but notes the government's non-compliance with tabling policy. 16400 words, 2 hours.
Conservation Donations Members debate Motion No. 15, which proposes enhancing federal tax credits for ecological donations and monetary contributions to conservation organizations. The goal is to encourage voluntary private land conservation, helping Canada meet its target of protecting 30% of its territory by 2030. Some question the motion's ambition and the government's broader environmental commitments, while others raise concerns about its impact on housing and First Nations. 7900 words, 45 minutes.
Canada's Auto Industry Members debate Canada's auto industry, focusing on challenges from US tariffs and the Liberal government's electric vehicle (EV) mandate. Liberals emphasize government support for workers and industry while acknowledging a pause on EV targets. Conservatives criticize trade handling and call for the EV mandate's elimination, arguing it harms jobs. The Bloc Québécois questions investment distribution, and the NDP advocates for a renewed "auto pact" and diversification away from US dependence. 34600 words, 4 hours.
Mark Carney LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, what the government is happy to tell Canadian families is that we cut the taxes for 22 million Canadians, we cut the taxes on first-time homebuyers and we are investing a budget, which the Leader of the Opposition and the members opposite voted against, that is going to cause $1 trillion of investment in this country over the next five years, grow jobs and grow futures for Canada.
We believe in Canada. Come join us.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, we voted against the Prime Minister's doubling Justin Trudeau's deficit, which will drive up groceries even more.
What is he spending the money on? It is on corporate bailouts for companies that ship jobs out of Canada. The Prime Minister promised he would negotiate a win and have a deal by July 21. However, with still no win, still no deal and still no elbows, 1,000 workers at Algoma Steel are now losing their jobs.
We now learn that the Prime Minister gave $400 million to the corporate executives of that company without any job guarantees. How is it that the Prime Minister could have been so incompetent as to saddle Canadians who cannot afford to pay their bills with a $400-million bailout bill, without any guarantee of jobs staying in Canada?
Mark Carney LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, these are difficult times in Sault Ste. Marie, and our hearts go to the families.
However, as the CEO of Algoma Steel said, it would be “an even darker day” if this government had not acted. That loan, that support, saved two-thirds of those jobs. That loan, that support, gives Algoma a bridge to the future that we are building strong in this country and that the Conservatives voted against.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, well, as long as the CEO is happy with the $400-million gift he got from the Prime Minister, that is all matters to the Liberals.
He did not give the workers a bridge to the future. He gave them a bridge to the unemployment lines, 1,000 of them. One-third of the workers at Algoma in Sault Ste. Marie have now lost their jobs after the Prime Minister paid to have those jobs shipped abroad. How is it that he could have been so irresponsible with the money of hard-working Canadians that he would pay a corporate CEO $400 million to send 1,000 jobs south?
Mark Carney LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, to quote a Conservative leader who is actually in office, the Premier of Ontario, we had a choice: save two-thirds of the jobs or let the company go down.
We chose the future. We chose the future for Algoma Steel, so that it can invest in the future, so we can buy Canadian, and so we can build this country. The Conservatives had an opportunity to vote for that future, but they voted against it.
Yves-François Blanchet Bloc Beloeil—Chambly, QC
Mr. Speaker, the former minister of Canadian identity and culture left cabinet and admitted that he did it to make people think, because the Liberal Party had neglected the progressive wing of the party and because the reason that the Liberal Party had won so many seats was that Bloc supporters voted for it.
To replace the member for Laurier—Sainte-Marie, the Prime Minister appointed the member for Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs. Who is going to speak for language? Who is going to speak for culture? Who is going to speak for Quebec?
Mark Carney LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, 44 of our members speak for Quebec. As Prime Minister and as an anglophone, I am going to protect the French language. I am going to protect Quebec culture.
Yves-François Blanchet Bloc Beloeil—Chambly, QC
Mr. Speaker, unless the Prime Minister's autocratic tendencies grow stronger, there will be another election one day.
According to the former minister, people voted for voted for climate action, which the Prime Minister claimed to care about, and for trade negotiations. However, the Prime Minister is focused on neither. He is not doing things he said he would do, and he is doing things he never said he would do.
In full transparency, what did he say to his former minister?
Mark Carney LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, I remain committed to our climate targets. We need major investments, not just rules. We need to invest in clean electricity in Quebec and in nuclear power in Alberta and Ontario. We need to invest in carbon storage. We will do all of that.
Yves-François Blanchet Bloc Beloeil—Chambly, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister thinks that nuclear power is clean energy. The Prime Minister is removing the caps and limits on greenhouse gas emissions, particularly for electricity generation. The former minister also said that once the support of the base is lost, it is very hard to get it back.
For his own sake, will the Prime Minister abandon his oil agenda, go back to his climate agenda, and take an interest in Quebec?
Mark Carney LiberalPrime Minister
Mr. Speaker, we are going to strengthen our climate agenda. We have just begun to invest in the sector. For example, the budget now includes $4 billion for Hydro-Québec and clean electricity through investment tax credits. This is the beginning of a major clean energy project.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, Liberals love to give corporate bailouts and handouts to companies that ship jobs out of our country. Now, we learn that the Liberal government has pledged $15 billion or $1,000 for every tax-paying family in Canada, people who cannot afford food, to Stellantis.
Investment is fleeing this country almost as fast as the Prime Minister is running out the back door of Parliament right now. Why will he not—
Automotive IndustryOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
The hon. member knows that was offside.
We are going to have to go to the next question, which is also that of the Leader of the Opposition.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister gets angry and runs out the door rather than answering questions about the cost of $15 billion out the door, or $1,000 for every tax-paying family, to a company that is shipping jobs out of the country. Why is he sending our dollars away and our jobs away while he runs away?
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Finance and National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, we will take no lessons from the Conservatives, ever: not today, yesterday or tomorrow, any time they ask questions of members on this side of the House.
Every single member on this side is fighting for Canada. We are fighting for all of our industry. We are fighting for our workers. We are fighting to build Canada strong.
We should all join to defend our workers in the middle of a trade war. We do not need that kind of Conservative politics. We need to stand up for Canada and build Canada strong. I believe in Canada.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister cannot stand up for workers if he cannot even stand up in the House of Commons.
The finance minister is the one who signed the sweetheart $15-billion subsidy—
Automotive IndustryOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
Order. I did not hear the beginning of the question. The member did lose one question, but I would like him to start from the top on that one.
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Battle River—Crowfoot, AB
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister cannot stand up for workers if he cannot even stand up and answer my questions. The finance minister has not stood up for workers either. He signed a $15-billion sweetheart subsidy deal with Stellantis, and now that same company, taking our tax dollars, the equivalent of $1,000 for every family in Canada, is shipping the jobs to the United States of America.
The industry minister says she has not even read the $15-billion contract. Has the Prime Minister even read the contract, or did he simply look at the $15-billion deal and say, who cares?
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Finance and National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, Canadians who are watching at home are looking at someone who has only ever made one deal: to come to this House.
On this side of the House, we have always stood to make sure we will build this country. We will attract investment. The member should be ashamed. Ask a Canadian when the last deal was that he brought to this country. Ask him when he created one job in his country apart from his own.
On this side of the House, we will always stand for workers. We will bring investment. We will build the strongest economy in the G7, because we believe in Canada. We are going to fight every single day for Canada.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, we are going to go and report the Prime Minister to the witness protection program, because he refuses to stand in this House and answer about his government's expenditure of $15 billion, $1,000 for every Canadian family, to one company, supposedly to create jobs. That same company now ships those jobs south of the border, and the government is covering up the contract.
Yesterday, we learned from the company that it does not have any reason to redact the contract, so why does the government not release the full details of the contract, so that Canadians can find out how badly the Prime Minister ripped them off?
Mélanie Joly LiberalMinister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Mr. Speaker, I have three points.
First, the member should ask the member for Windsor—Tecumseh—Lakeshore on his side of the House whether she agrees with what he says regarding the Stellantis workers in Windsor.
Second, when it comes to the documents, the committee members will have access to all the documents. That is a moot question.
Third, when it comes to what is happening with Stellantis in Brampton, we had a contract and Stellantis broke the contract. We will get our money back.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
I have three points, Mr. Speaker, about this $15-billion bailout and handout. The minister did not read the contract, she did not read the contract and she did not read the contract. How can she possibly claim she is going to get the money back, when she does not know what legal powers are in the contract because she admits she did not read the contract?
My question for her is this. As families are lining up at food banks because they cannot afford food, how does she justify charging every single household $1,000 for a handout to a company shipping jobs south of the border?
Mélanie Joly LiberalMinister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Mr. Speaker, first and foremost, I did not admit that; second, I read the contract, and third, the committee members will have all the details.
That being said, what we will do is fight for these jobs. We know that the workers are affected in the auto sector and the steel sector by the unjustified and unjustifiable American tariffs. We will make sure that we get these jobs back in Canada, and we will fight for every single job.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Mr. Speaker, I had the honour to stand with the Unifor workers in Brampton, who were out in the rain and the cold. There was not a Liberal around and not a word from the Prime Minister. All of them wanted to know what was happening with their jobs. The Liberals had given money to Stellantis for that plant and $15 billion to Stellantis for another plant, and those workers out in the cold, unable to afford their mortgages, were wondering how it was possible for the Prime Minister to give $15 billion without even guaranteeing their jobs.
Does he have the courage to stand up now and explain it to their face?
Mélanie Joly LiberalMinister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Mr. Speaker, we do not need any lessons from the Conservatives when it comes to courage and standing up for workers who are unionized.
That is why I was in Brampton, along with the workers, and that is why I was even talking to Lana Payne a bit earlier today. What was she telling me? She was telling me how when Harper and the Conservative government at the time, in 2009, decided to bail out GM and Chrysler, they did nothing to protect the workers. That is the Conservatives' record when it comes to the auto sector.