House of Commons Hansard #16 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was economy.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Motion That Debate Be Not Further Adjourned Members debate the government's motion to limit debate on Bill C-5, which the Liberals state will accelerate major projects and reduce trade barriers, fulfilling an election promise. Opposition parties protest the use of closure, arguing the bill is rushed, lacks consultation, and could weaken environmental laws and fail to address existing project barriers. 4400 words, 30 minutes.
Consideration of Government Business No. 1 Members debate Bill C-5, aimed at establishing one Canadian economy by removing federal interprovincial trade barriers and facilitating major national projects. Liberals argue it boosts economic resilience and Indigenous participation. Conservatives criticize it as a missed opportunity that doesn't fix root issues like Bill C-69, allows the government to pick winners and losers, and grants sweeping powers. Concerns are raised about insufficient consultation and limiting debate via closure. 15000 words, 2 hours.
Act to amend the Constitution Act, 1867 First reading of Bill C-210. The bill amends the Constitution Act, 1867 to eliminate the requirement for Members of Parliament to swear an oath to the King, replacing it with an oath of office. 200 words.
Government Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5 Members debate Bill C-5, the one Canadian economy act, which aims to remove federal internal trade barriers and expedite major projects. Liberals argue it reflects an election mandate to build a stronger economy against trade threats. Conservatives support the intent but criticize the bill as a "baby step," lacking transparency, and failing to repeal previous laws like Bill C-69. Bloc members oppose the bill, viewing it as a democratic setback, undermining environmental protection, and centralizing power, particularly objecting to the use of a closure motion. 37100 words, 5 hours.
One Canadian Economy Act Second reading of Bill C-5. The bill aims to boost Canada's economy by eliminating internal trade barriers and streamlining approvals for major infrastructure projects. The Liberal government argues this will deliver free trade in Canada and speed up building. Conservatives support faster projects but question its effectiveness. Bloc Québécois, NDP, and Green Party raise concerns about the bill's impact on provincial autonomy, Indigenous rights, environmental protection, and the democratic process, arguing it grants excessive power and was rushed through without proper consultation, potentially undermining democracy and representing an unprecedented power grab. 16000 words, 3 hours.
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Liberal
Steven MacKinnon Liberal Gatineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, Canadians did not give the Bloc Québécois the right to introduce government bills.
It is our job to introduce government bills in the House. Yes, we are in a minority situation. That means that they, too, must make choices, necessary choices in our opinion, choices that we will have to make to ensure the future of Quebec and Canada.
The Bloc Québécois has an opportunity to ensure Quebec's future. Quebeckers want that. The Bloc does not.
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Conservative
Roman Baber Conservative York Centre, ON
Mr. Speaker, I would inquire if the minister sincerely believes the bill will meet constitutional scrutiny. We know the bill prescribes that projects of national importance will, essentially, be treated as a forgone conclusion. We also know the duty to consult, identified by the Supreme Court, has repeatedly held that the government has to consult in good faith. How can the government have consultation in good faith when it comes with a forgone conclusion?
Does the minister truly believe the bill will meet constitutional scrutiny?
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Liberal
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Conservative
Brad Vis Conservative Mission—Matsqui—Abbotsford, BC
Mr. Speaker, during the election, the Prime Minister made many references to the legislation before the House today. The expectation in British Columbia is that after this bill is passed, British Columbian farmers will be able to sell their wine in every other province and territory in Canada.
Can the leader of the House for the government state clearly today whether all trade barriers for the distribution of B.C. wine will be eliminated?
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Liberal
Steven MacKinnon Liberal Gatineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, as the member well knows, we act in a federal jurisdiction. This bill eliminates federal exemptions to interprovincial trade and is an important piece of leadership as we move forward.
I would also note that the member's premier, his province and even his region have come to various arrangements that facilitate just that. Yes, we would like Okanagan—
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Bloc
Yves Perron Bloc Berthier—Maskinongé, QC
Mr. Speaker, this is a sad moment for democracy. I can even see it in the faces of the Liberal members across the aisle. Many of them are uncomfortable with what is happening.
Not only do we need to study every single bill but, depending on the scope of the changes proposed, we must also be conscientious and inform the public. Despite the condescending attitude of the Leader of the Government in the House, who appears to be saying that we have no business proposing anything, the opposition's role in a democracy is to inform the public and ask questions. What the Liberals are doing this morning is preventing us from doing that, while they intend to sacrifice—
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
The Assistant Deputy Speaker John Nater
The hon. Leader of the Government in the House of Commons has 30 seconds to respond.
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Liberal
Steven MacKinnon Liberal Gatineau, QC
Mr. Speaker, I think the hon. member is exaggerating by repeating the same questions.
We on this side of the House are very excited about fulfilling such a solemn election commitment and, as we promised the people of Quebec, moving forward with this major development that will create opportunities, jobs and investment in Quebec and across Canada.
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
The Assistant Deputy Speaker John Nater
It is my duty to interrupt the proceedings at this time and put forthwith the question on the motion now before the House.
The question is on the motion.
If a member participating in person wishes that the motion be carried or carried on division, or if a member of a recognized party participating in person wishes to request a recorded division, I would invite them to rise and indicate it to the Chair.
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Conservative
Kelly Block Conservative Carlton Trail—Eagle Creek, SK
Mr. Speaker, we request it be carried on division.
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Some hon. members
Oh, oh!
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Liberal
Motion That Debate Be Not Further AdjournedGovernment Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Government Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
The House resumed from June 13 consideration of the motion and of the amendment.
Consideration of Government Business No. 1Government Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Kings—Hants Nova Scotia
Liberal
Kody Blois LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister
Mr. Speaker, it is a privilege to join today's debate on Bill C-5, the one Canadian economy legislation. Before I get started, I want to recognize that I will be sharing my time with the hon. member for Mississauga East—Cooksville this afternoon.
We are living in a very uncertain world. As I speak right now, there are missiles being exchanged between Israel and Iran. There is great tension in the Middle East. War continues to ravage Ukraine after three years of brutal Russian onslaught, naked aggression against that democracy that is simply trying to defend its sovereignty. Authoritarian regimes are on the rise. I think it is fair to say that this is probably the most uncertain time in the world, certainly since the Cold War; parallels can be made. It is the most dangerous time since World War II.
In the backdrop of all I just mentioned, and we could spend an entire debate talking about that today, the U.S. administration and the United States, our largest trading partner, regardless of one's partisan affiliation or ideological viewpoint, is seeking to re-establish and to reimagine the relationships it has in the world, with maybe less on multilateralism. It is certainly changing the relationship that the United States has in relation to trade.
We as parliamentarians sit in this place today with tariffs on Canadian products going into the United States that are unjustified and illegal. I am sure all members of the House would agree with that, but they exist. If someone is a steel worker in Hamilton, or if they are in Quebec or in the Soo, there is great uncertainty right now for our Canadian workforce, and particularly for certain industries across the country.
Canada is at a crossroads in terms of what we do next. The Prime Minister and the government were elected in April in part to be able to handle the world that we are living in and the economic uncertainty that has been presented because of all the factors I just laid out, and that brings us to the legislation that is before the House here today.
The Prime Minister has been very clear that we as Canadians can give ourselves so much more than anyone can take away from us as a country. The legislation that is being considered here in the House aims to do just that: It aims to ensure that we can strengthen our Canadian economy, which is under duress from U.S. tariffs and is facing an uncertain world for all the reasons I just laid out.
The bill seeks to do two things. First, it seeks to establish one Canadian economy, not 13. This has been a concept for quite some years, many decades in fact. It is fair to say that some Canadians, and maybe indeed some members of the House, could be cynical about the idea that we can break down the interprovincial trade barriers that cost Canadian GDP in this country approximately $200 billion. Twenty per cent of our national gross domestic product is from services, goods and products being moved within our federation, and for far too long, there have been impediments to that free mobility, the ability for products to move easily between jurisdictions or for the accreditation of professions and services in this country to be recognized among provinces, territories and the federal government.
That is exactly why the government has introduced the bill, which would remove all remaining federal barriers to interprovincial trade. There are very few, but it is incumbent upon all of us, certainly upon the Prime Minister and the government, to show leadership such that the provinces and territories will follow suit. There is certainly political will right now, and Canadians are looking for their elected leaders to break down the barriers and make it easier to do business. Ultimately, this is about growing our Canadian economy.
Over the last 10 years, Canada has had the second-highest overall growth in the G7, but productivity remains an issue. This is something the Prime Minister and the government are serious about tackling, and they want to get started on this domain in earnest. The bill would help do that. The bill would help to break down barriers, to allow small businesses across this country to send their products east-west, as opposed to necessarily looking to other international markets.
I will give an example. I represent the Annapolis Valley, Kings—Hants, in Nova Scotia. There is an emerging wine industry there. It is easier for wine growers in Nova Scotia to send their bottles of beautiful handcrafted products to France than it is to send them to New Brunswick or Ontario. That is just one of the examples. How about the accreditation for surveyors? A surveyor who has accreditation in Ontario would have to re-register in order to work on a federal project in the same city. These are the types of things that we can no longer take for granted and not move on with a sense of urgency and action.
The bill is very clear and is only 25 pages long. The first half is dedicated to interprovincial trade and the mobility of workers in this country. I look forward to a member of Parliament's suggesting that is not a good idea, because I do not think it is what public opinion is, and I certainly do not think it is where public policy should be in the moment of the factors I just laid out to the House. We are going to be moving on it.
The bill would allow for federal regulatory agencies or departments to ensure that where there is comparable, and that is the word used, legislation in a provincial or territorial sense, it would receive the same accreditation as federally. That is important. The legislation lays the foundation. There would be a lot of heavy lifting to ensure that we can exercise that. The legislation is step number one. The sooner we can pass it through the House, the better.
The second aspect of the bill is that we need to get our economy going. We have major projects, and the world needs what Canada has, whether it is in critical minerals, agriculture or the forestry sector. We are blessed to have natural endowments and people with ingenuity, such that people around the world want our products and services.
On major projects, the government is delineating a process to be able to approve major projects more quickly. It is extremely important. Proponents have talked about wanting the ability to move faster on this, and the legislation would allow there to be a major national projects office with the Governor in Council and one minister who would set the conditions for the projects. The cabinet would have the ability, of course, to engage with indigenous partners, provinces and other stakeholders to identify major projects of national concern.
There are five criteria the legislation lays out. I want to cover them for all members of the House and for the public at home so they can understand what would actually constitute a major project in this country. A project would have to strengthen Canada's autonomy, resilience and security. Obviously, it would have to have a clear economic or other benefit to Canada. It would have to have a high likelihood of successful execution in terms of the ability for a project to actually move forward and happen. It would have to advance the interests of indigenous people and contribute to the clean growth in Canada's objectives in relation to climate change. Those are the criteria the government would use.
There are a few things that are extremely important to highlight. I go back to section 35 rights and UNDRIP. There has been some concern outside the House that somehow this legislation would disallow or lessen the constitutional rights indigenous people are afforded in this country. That is not what is happening whatsoever. Any project that would ever find its way onto this list of national projects of concern would have to have involved deep consultation with indigenous people, and one of the actual provisions is that indigenous communities would have to be consulted as part of this.
Nothing from this bill would take away from UNDRIP, which the House passed. Nothing would take away from the ability of indigenous partners to actually benefit.
Consideration of Government Business No. 1Government Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
An hon. member
Oh, oh!
Consideration of Government Business No. 1Government Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Liberal
Kody Blois Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
Mr. Speaker, there is a member from the NDP heckling me here on today's point. What she does not understand is that this represents an absolutely tremendous opportunity for indigenous people in this country. She wants to, I guess, perhaps, limit the economic opportunities available to indigenous people in this country.
We have increased the loan equity in this—
Consideration of Government Business No. 1Government Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
An hon. member
It's about free, prior and informed consent.
Consideration of Government Business No. 1Government Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
The Assistant Deputy Speaker John Nater
Order, please.
I will remind members that there will be a question and comment period. Let us hold our comments until then.
The hon. parliamentary secretary.
Consideration of Government Business No. 1Government Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
Liberal
Kody Blois Liberal Kings—Hants, NS
Mr. Speaker, the hon. member for Winnipeg Centre can wait for her turn in this place, when she can happily ask the question.
My position, and the position of the government, is that we need to be able to move projects of national interest that include indigenous equity in this country. There are indigenous communities that want to move on national projects—
Consideration of Government Business No. 1Government Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
An hon. member
Oh, oh!
Consideration of Government Business No. 1Government Business No. 1—Proceedings on Bill C-5Government Orders
The Assistant Deputy Speaker John Nater
Order, please.
The hon. parliamentary secretary is rising on a point of order.
