Madam Speaker, it is important to understand that any discussion about bringing Chinese electric vehicles into Canada is really about distracting from the fact that Canada is backsliding when it comes to vehicle regulations and incentives for purchasing electric vehicles. The government no longer wants to force Canadian manufacturers to produce more EVs.
When it comes to Chinese electric vehicles, it is important to understand that the technology is much more advanced, that Canada is lagging behind, that Canadian manufacturers are lagging behind and that 50% of all new vehicles sold in China are electric. Still, we believe that bringing in these vehicles without considering the risks associated with espionage, the fact that China is engaging in foreign interference, the fact that China uses forced child labour and a type of modern slavery and that China does not respect human rights means that Canada is signing an agreement without taking any action against forced labour, for example, as the Bloc Québécois had proposed in a bill. It is important to be careful about that.
We have to wonder why the government did not act first by allowing European EVs into North America. These vehicles are less expensive and more technologically advanced than those of Canadian manufacturers. This would also help lower the cost for consumers who are interested in these vehicles. However, the federal government is not allowing them to enter the country. That is the real scandal, and it is yet another major setback from a climate perspective that has a huge impact on the economy and on consumers' wallets.