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.
Pierre Poilievre ConservativeLeader of the Opposition
Well, Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister asked an interesting question: “Who cares?” “Who cares?”, he asked. He is not there, so he does not care.
Forestry IndustryOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
I assume the member meant that somehow metaphorically. Maybe next time, he will not use so many metaphors.
Pierre Poilievre Conservative Battle River—Crowfoot, AB
Mr. Speaker, it was a metaphor, just like all those Liberal promises.
Unfortunately, today we learned even more terrible news. The Domtar workers in British Columbia have lost their jobs, as a 30th mill has closed under the Liberal government. The Prime Minister promised that he would get a deal to end the tariffs, and those tariffs have tripled, all while he removes the legal challenge against the illegal softwood lumber tariffs.
How is it the Prime Minister broke his promise and sold out our lumber workers?
Tim Hodgson LiberalMinister of Energy and Natural Resources
Mr. Speaker, I am glad the member opposite has realized there is a trade war. That trade war is creating challenging times for the people of Crofton, and we understand that.
I was on the phone with the CEO today working on new solutions to retool that mill. I was on the phone with the minister of forestry looking at new fibre solutions for the mill. We are standing up for the forestry industry. The Conservatives just complain.
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised to build a single economy. He did not lie because he did build a single economy, a dirty oil economy out west. Not one inch of the pipelines he wants to impose under the pretext of standing up to Donald Trump will be built during Trump's presidency, but they will pollute for 40 years. This is a betrayal not only of Quebeckers, but also of countries that have not given up the fight against climate change.
How can the Liberals look themselves in the mirror?
Julie Dabrusin LiberalMinister of the Environment
Mr. Speaker, when we talk about how we are going to build a country, a strong Canada, we are talking about projects like hydroelectricity in Iqaluit. We are talking about the high-speed train that would connect Toronto and Quebec City. That will allow us to use Canadian steel and aluminum. These are very important projects. We have many others, such as graphite mines in Quebec. These represent good jobs in Canada and a very strong future for our country.
Patrick Bonin Bloc Repentigny, QC
Mr. Speaker, despite what the minister says, Quebeckers did not vote for the Liberals so they could give up on climate action and turn Canada into global problem. They also did not vote for the Liberals to get a pipeline rammed down a province's throat. They did not vote for the Liberals to make our children live through a growing number of natural disasters. Quebeckers did not vote for that, and a lot of Liberals did not sign up for that either.
Are they not fed up with drinking the Kool-Aid?
Marc Miller LiberalMinister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages
Mr. Speaker, I learned this morning that the separatist movement wants to impose a loyalty test on Quebec artists. I wonder if the Bloc Québécois supports this approach. That might come as a surprise because the Bloc asked for absolutely nothing in the last budget for the cultural sector. Separatists do not have a monopoly on Quebec loyalty and pride.
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Mr. Speaker, the new Minister responsible for Official Languages was only in his position one day—not 10 days, five days or even two days—before he said that he was fed up with hearing about the decline of French in Quebec. As Mathieu Bock-Côté so aptly put it, “it's the federal Liberals' usual denial, disdain and contempt toward the future of French in Quebec.”
Does the Prime Minister realize that he made a huge mistake by appointing his most incompetent MP to handle the sensitive issue of French in Canada, and in Quebec in particular?
Marc Miller LiberalMinister of Canadian Identity and Culture and Minister responsible for Official Languages
Mr. Speaker, with the exception of the member opposite, no one in Canada believes that Pierre Poilievre will protect the French language in Quebec or elsewhere—
Official LanguagesOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
I think the minister knows he made a small mistake, but he can continue.
Marc Miller Liberal Ville-Marie—Le Sud-Ouest—Île-des-Soeurs, QC
Mr. Speaker, I withdraw the comment. Let me put it this way: I am sure that this year's member for Carleton will stand up for French better than last year's member for Carleton did.
Pierre Paul-Hus Conservative Charlesbourg—Haute-Saint-Charles, QC
Mr. Speaker, one thing is certain: The Leader of the Opposition would never have appointed a unilingual anglophone Governor General. We are fed up on this side of the House. We are fed up with Justin Trudeau's former ministers. We are fed up with ministers who broke Canada's immigration system, fed up with a minister who refuses to acknowledge the decline of French and fed up with a minister who does not care about Quebec culture.
When will the Prime Minister be fed up with this minister too?
Steven MacKinnon LiberalMinister of Transport and Leader of the Government in the House of Commons
Mr. Speaker, after spending 10 years on the other side of the House, I can understand why they are fed up. They must be fed up with voting against dental care, official languages legislation and renewable energy in Quebec.
They must be very fed up with losing three, soon to be four, different leaders.
Melissa Lantsman Conservative Thornhill, ON
Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government handed Algoma Steel $400 million and got zero Canadian jobs in return. Now 1,000 workers in Sault Ste. Marie are getting pink slips just weeks before Christmas. Worst, the Liberals knew about these layoffs, and they wrote them the cheque anyway. They looked steelworkers in the eye and promised to fight for them. The promise turned out to be a $400-million lie, and the Liberals knew it from day one.
Can anyone over there explain why corporate welfare matters more than Canadian jobs?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
Mr. Speaker, it is pretty clear that those Conservatives would not have lifted a hand to help save our steel industry in Canada.
That is pretty clear from the nature of the questions, but more than that, do members know what happens when someone loses their job? It is a time of panic. That is why we extended EI for 20 weeks for long-tenured workers. The Conservatives will mock this because they voted against it. They voted against the very supports that people need in times of stress.
Canadians know that we have their backs in the good times and the bad.
Melissa Lantsman Conservative Thornhill, ON
Mr. Speaker, the minister needs to get her stories straight. There was $400 million given to executives at Algoma Steel, but there was zero for the people who actually make the steel. That means that a thousand people are out in the cold at Christmas. Nobody over there has a reasonable explanation for this deal, and this is not the first time that this megadollar mess has been caused.
The Liberal minister already admitted that she does not read contracts. I want to know, did Algoma Steel catch the minister not reading, or is it just that the minister does not care?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
Mr. Speaker, I know the Conservatives do not know much about working together in collaboration, but Doug Ford does. The Premier of Ontario is working just as hard as this government to save those jobs in Sault Ste. Marie. That is why we made a $400-million loan to Algoma Steel, because we know that those jobs are important, that the company is important to the future of Canada and that we need a sovereign steel industry in this country.
These guys would have let it all go. That is pretty clear.
Ned Kuruc Conservative Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON
Mr. Speaker, yesterday, we found out that the Liberals knew Algoma was planning to lay off 1,000 steel workers before giving the company $400 million. I guess the Prime Minister was speaking the truth: He really does not care about protecting Canadian jobs.
Do members know who does care? Conservatives care and so do the thousands of Hamilton steel and manufacturing workers who go to bed every night wondering if they are going to have a job in the morning.
Why is it that, with these Liberals, there is always a guarantee for corporate welfare but zero guarantees for the Canadian worker?
Mélanie Joly LiberalMinister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions
Mr. Speaker, when my colleague is talking about corporate welfare, what I am saying to him is that workers are worth every dime, particularly Algoma ones in light of the American unjustified tariffs.
That is exactly why we decided, along with the Conservatives in Ontario, with Doug Ford's government, to support the company as it was facing an existential threat. The company was not going well. We knew we needed to help. We decided to make the investments, and meanwhile, we know that the future can be brighter because we are working on two things: a steel plant and a plate mill for defence and infrastructure.
Tatiana Auguste Liberal Terrebonne, QC
Mr. Speaker, this summer, Canadians from coast to coast to coast cheered on Victoria Mboko, the young tennis sensation from Burlington, Ontario, when she won the National Bank Open.
Can the Secretary of State for Sport explain how this inspiring performance reflects Canada's growth as a sport nation and the importance of making tennis and all sports accessible to everyone?
Adam van Koeverden LiberalSecretary of State (Sport)
Mr. Speaker, I thank the member for Terrebonne for that excellent question.
The extraordinary success of Burlington's pride and joy, Victoria Mboko, at the National Bank Open reminds us how essential it is to make sports accessible to all Canadians.
That is why our government has championed sport as a project in the national interest. Victoria's success proves that when we invest in sport, Canada wins. We will build a strong sports system that our nation can be proud of.
Kyle Seeback Conservative Dufferin—Caledon, ON
Mr. Speaker, it is time for some facts on the Stellantis contract in the Brampton assembly plant. The fact is that the former minister of industry did not read the contract and, as a reward, was promoted to finance minister. The fact is that there is no job guarantee in this contract, or it could not have laid off 3,000 workers. The fact is that the Liberals gave $200 million to Stellantis with no conditions. Even Ontario did not advance the money exactly because of that. The fact is that 3,000 auto workers in Brampton are out of work and struggling to make ends meet.
How the hell are the Liberals so incompetent?
Automotive IndustryOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
Let us be careful about some of the words we use. People are watching at home. Their kids are watching.
The hon. Minister of International Trade.
Maninder Sidhu LiberalMinister of International Trade
Mr. Speaker, speaking of facts, including creating opportunities for the workers in Brampton, here are some facts: the Prime Minister secured a $70-billion investment from the U.A.E. into Canada; the German navy has committed $1 billion for Canadian-made defence equipment; Finnish Nokia recently broke ground on a new $340-million facility in Ottawa; and, few weeks ago, Malaysia Petronas signed a 20-year deal to secure energy from Canada.
This is what is creating opportunities for workers looks like.