Mr. Speaker, my speech this evening is dedicated to all those we meet on the campaign trail who tell us that their vote does not matter and will not make a difference. We are here to tell them that a solemn election promise does matter.
On the very first page of our election platform, we spoke about the need to refocus the Canadian economy. We are here tonight for the second reading of this bill to assure people that their vote counts. Once elected, a government fulfills its promises. We are here to respond to this heartfelt plea from all Canadians, including the Gatineau constituents whom I have the honour of representing here in the House. We are here to tell them that their vote counts. Indeed, we are here in the House, driven by a sense of urgency and a desire to serve and to fulfill our promises.
Canadians gave this new government a clear and urgent mandate: to build a stronger Canada and an economy that works for everyone. They sent us here to eliminate barriers, unlock opportunities and deliver the results that matter in their daily lives. This is exactly what we are doing.
Just days after this Parliament was convened, we introduced Bill C-5, the one Canadian economy act, because we are in a period of economic uncertainty. People are worried. Canadians cannot afford inaction.
This bill aims to remove barriers that are holding our country back. It aims to build a Canada that works better together. It aims to deliver real, tangible benefits to Canadian workers, Canadian businesses and Canadian communities.
For too long, our economy has been divided, not by ability and ambition but by artificial borders and outdated rules. The one Canadian economy act would address this directly. First, it would remove federal barriers to internal trade and labour mobility. It would make it easier for businesses to operate across the country with no more needless duplication of approvals, no more inconsistencies that raise costs and delay investment. A company in one province will have a clearer, faster pathway to sell its goods and services in another, and the same goes for workers.
In the House, we hear all too many voices that do not recognize the workers having trouble getting licensed in one province or another. Right now, a certified professional in one province may still have to go through redundant processes just to work in another. This slows down hiring, frustrates skilled Canadians and limits where people can go to find opportunity. The one Canadian economy act would help break those barriers down. By facilitating greater coordination across jurisdictions, we will move closer to a truly national labour market, one where people can take their skills where they are needed without unnecessary red tape.
Second, this bill would allow for faster completion of large-scale projects, infrastructure projects that are essential for nation building, projects that support clean energy, conventional energy, housing, transportation—the backbone of Canada's future economy.
Through the building Canada act, this bill will simplify federal review and approval processes for major infrastructure projects. It will encourage coordination, reduce duplication and pave the way for faster and more efficient decisions.
I want to be clear. This will not come at the expense of environmental protection, indigenous rights or public consultation. We will continue to honour our responsibilities. However, we must also recognize that we cannot meet the urgent needs of Canadians if the processes are overly slow. This bill ensures that we are efficient and in line with our shared priorities.
This bill would deliver what Canadians expect from their government: action, ambition and collaboration. We are not here to talk about why things are difficult. We are here to remove the barriers and get things done.
Make no mistake that the barriers we are targeting come at a real cost: a cost in productivity, a cost in jobs and a cost in confidence. The reality is, Canada has some of the most fragmented internal economic rules in the industrialized world. We make it easier, in some cases, for goods to move across international borders than between our own provinces. That is not only inefficient, but it is irrational.
The Senate, the Parliamentary Budget Officer, economists, chambers of commerce and unions have all pointed to the significant ongoing costs of internal trade barriers. That is billions of dollars in economic activity lost every single year. That is billions of dollars that could be invested in growth, in clean energy, in housing and in innovation. We can no longer afford to leave that opportunity on the table.
This bill respects provincial jurisdiction. It represents a partnership, but it is also clear and defines a national understanding: This country's economy must function as what it is, one Canada.
We are introducing this legislation with urgency because the moment demands it. We are facing labour shortages across sectors such as construction, health care and transportation. No one's riding is immune. There are also the skilled trades. We are facing a growing demand for infrastructure, and we are facing a global economy that is moving fast, with countries investing heavily in supply chains, clean energy and productivity. Canada cannot afford to be slow. We must match our ambition with action, and that is exactly what this bill represents.
This bill is also based on optimism, on the belief that Canada works better when we work together. We believe in a country where people are free to build a life, a business and a future without being held back by useless barriers. We believe in a country where provinces and territories work together for economic growth rather than competing with each other through unnecessary duplication. We believe in a country where governments rise to the challenge, recognize the moment and act with determination. That is what we are doing today.
We have all heard people say that some projects will never see the light of day, that they cannot be completed because of excessive bureaucracy and regulations. The various levels of government are often criticized for not communicating enough with each other. This bill is a solemn and very effective response to those criticisms. It allows us to dream.
The other day, I said that a project like the one in James Bay would never have been thought possible. The same goes for Expo 67 and the construction of the Montreal metro. Even building a bridge across the Northumberland Strait to Prince Edward Island would seem out of reach. We have lost the ability to dream. This bill rekindles that ambition. It gives Canadians the opportunity to dream again.
Before this House rises for the summer, we are asking Parliament to give this legislation the urgent attention it deserves. We want to give Canadians back the possibility of dreaming to build and dreaming to build bigger. We want to debate this bill, we want to examine this bill, and yes, we want to vote on this bill.
In the election campaign, our leader said it is time to build. We truly believe that it is Canada's time. It is time to rid ourselves of these needless delays, bureaucracies and rules. It is time to get our ambition and strap it on to meet the needs of this new economic era. Canadians are counting on us to move forward, not stand still. The one Canadian economy act is a win for people, for the Canadian economy, for Canadian workers, for Canadian investment and for Canadian unity.
Long live Canada.
Let us get this work done.