Debates of June 10th, 2025

Main Estimates and Supplementary Estimates (A), 2025-26

[Jason Groleau, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Mr. Speaker, how long does the minister think businesses can survive when the only help they are getting is more loans?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague, the Minister of International Trade, and I are finding new markets for certain steel and aluminum products. It is important to diversify exports and we are working together with the industry.

[Jason Groleau, Conservative, Beauce, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I had a discussion this evening with a local business owner, a family man involved in the community who runs a business with about 100 employees and sales of about $100 million. That $100 million is now at risk. I asked him what questions he would like me to ask. He gave me a clear answer.

What is the clear plan of action to get these tariffs removed? When will this plan be implemented to produce real results, and quickly?

[François-Philippe Champagne, Liberal, Saint-Maurice—Champlain, QC]

Mr. Speaker, I would even invite my colleague to give my number to this Beauce business owner. I would very much like to speak with him. I recently hosted Beauce residents who thanked me for being there for them, for defending them and for providing liquidity to industry. These are tangible ways to help people in Beauce and across Quebec and Canada defend themselves against these unjustified, unfair and illegal tariffs. Our industries know that we will always be there for them and for workers.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, does Canada trade more internationally than within its own borders?

[Maninder Sidhu, Liberal, Minister of International Trade]

Mr. Speaker, currently, about 3.3 million people are employed due to our exports. They are an important part of our economy. One in six Canadian jobs is supported by trade, and I think it is important, while we work on reducing internal trade barriers, that we ensure that export markets are opened up as well.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, how much of our GDP is international trade worth?

[Maninder Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, thousands of jobs across this country are supported by trade, and it is very vital. We are a trading nation. That is why we have 15 trade agreements with over 50 countries around the world. We have access to 1.5 billion customers, whom we need to continue shipping good Canadian-made goods out to.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the answer is 66%, according to his government's website. While he accuses us of not reading, I guess he does not read his website either.

How much of our GDP is interprovincial trade worth?

[Maninder Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I think it is important to note that these numbers are all available on the website.

What we want to talk about today is workers and Canadian industries. That is what people at home are watching for. This is a time of crisis. Some 75% of our trade that goes to the U.S. is at risk, and that is why it is important that we open up new markets such as the Indo-Pacific region and the European Union. This is what I will be focused on.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is 36%. That is according to the government's website.

Is this imbalance not evidence that the Liberal government has failed to support Canadian companies doing business with each other?

[Maninder Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, what our government is doing is supporting industries and supporting workers. Just today I met with the agriculture industry, and they were very happy that we are opening up talks with partners like those in China. As a path forward, we are going to relaunch the JETC, the joint economic and trade commission, to ensure that we are able to—

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

The hon. member for Richmond Hill South.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, how many interprovincial trade barriers exist in Canada?

[Maninder Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to welcome the new member to the House, but I hope he studies which ministers do what, because as members know, I am the Minister of International Trade. My focus and mandate are to diversify trade to external markets.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, the Constitution gives the federal government jurisdiction over interprovincial trade, and that is under the purview of the minister.

Has the Liberal government ever exercised federal jurisdiction in the last 10 years over interprovincial trade barriers?

[Maninder Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is important to note that we have a Minister of Transport and Internal Trade. I am not allowed to say her name, but I think it is important that as cabinet colleagues and MPs, we all work together to ensure that we are able to reduce barriers to grow internal trade throughout our country.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, is it currently easier for a company in Ontario to export to the United States than it is to Quebec?

[Maninder Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, internal trade barriers do exist, and that is why it is important that we work with our provincial and territorial partners to ensure that we are able to unlock those barriers and unlock over $100 billion in economic activity in our country. However, while we do that, we also want to focus on export markets. The agriculture industry is one industry that is highly supported by exports, and we need to make sure that we are able to diversify trade.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it would cost the average Canadian $5,100 per year. To put it in terms the Minister of Transport would understand, that is a lot of Disney+ subscriptions.

Is it not true that the Liberal government has not done anything in the last 10 years to address the interprovincial trade barriers that you just admitted exist?

[The Speaker, Francis Scarpaleggia]

I have mentioned it many times, but the hon. member cannot address the member directly; he has to do it through the Chair.

The hon. minister.

[Maninder Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, this new government has a strong mandate from Canadians to make sure that we are able to diversify trade, but while we do that, of course, we are going to reduce internal trade barriers by working with provinces and territories. I think that is important to note for Canadians watching.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, it is ironic that the minister is talking about diversifying trade. Should it be easier for a Canadian to import wine from California than it is to import wine from Ontario?

[Maninder Sidhu, Liberal, Brampton East, ON]

Mr. Speaker, coming back to my scope and mandate, they are to make sure that I am out there diversifying trade in international markets. Of course, we have a Minister of Transport and Internal Trade as well, whom we will be working closely with, but we want to reduce trade barriers, whether they are international or within our own country.

[Vincent Ho, Conservative, Richmond Hill South, ON]

Mr. Speaker, does the Liberal government plan to incentivize the provinces to remove trade barriers?