House of Commons Hansard #153 of the 45th Parliament, 1st session. (The original version is on Parliament's site.) The word of the day was culture.
This summary is computer-generated. Usually it’s accurate, but every now and then it’ll contain inaccuracies or total fabrications.
Alleged Premature Disclosure of Information Concerning Bill C-39—Speaker's Ruling Members hear the Speaker rule that a media-only briefing on the Pacific Link pipeline policy does not constitute a prima facie breach of privilege, though members should receive timely information. 600 words.
Opposition Motion—Funding of the Cultural Sector Members debate the Bloc Québécois motion urging the government to uphold CRTC levies on streaming services and deliver a promised $600 million to the cultural sector. Bloc and NDP MPs argue the levies would make digital platforms contribute to supporting Quebec and Canadian culture, while Liberals say court challenges blocked payments and defend direct funding and a new policy approach. Conservatives question the cost and the government’s record of delivering its commitments. 43900 words, 5 hours in 2 segments: 1 2.
Alleged Mis-characterization of Members' Remarks Members debate a privilege complaint over remarks describing opposition to Bill C-39 as a “wild disinformation campaign,” with the NDP arguing the comments impugn MPs’ integrity and the Liberals saying the complaint is untimely and based on conjecture. 900 words, 10 minutes in 2 segments: 1 2.
Canada Labour Code Second reading of Bill C-247. The bill would repeal section 107 of the Canada Labour Code, which allows the federal government to intervene in labour disputes and limit strikes. Supporters say this protects workers’ charter rights and bargaining power; the Liberal speaker argues that safeguards and mediation reforms are preferable to repealing the provision. 5200 words, 35 minutes.
Bruce Fanjoy Liberal Carleton, ON
Mr. Speaker, skilled workers build this country. In my riding of Carleton and across Canada, young people want a path into the skilled trades, and unions are ready to train them.
Can the Secretary of State for Labour tell this House how the union training and innovation program will help more young Canadians get into the skilled trades and build Canada strong?
John Zerucelli LiberalSecretary of State (Labour)
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my colleague from Carleton for supporting the skilled trades.
Canada is embarking on one of the largest nation-building efforts in our history, but we cannot build big without skilled workers. That is why last week we announced $430 million for the union training and innovation program to expand apprenticeship training and modernize the union training centres that will support the next generation of skilled trades.
When we invest in workers, we are building Canada strong.
Michael Guglielmin Conservative Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON
Mr. Speaker, last Friday, the industry minister said resolving the Stelco dispute was a “question of days”, yet Cleveland-Cliffs is proceeding with indefinitely idling its Stelco cold-rolled and coated steel operations. It has been 13 days since Stelco first responded to her letter and six days since the minister said it would be resolved, and now we learn she is giving them an extra 15 days.
Canadians are having a hard time keeping up, and workers cannot pay their mortgages with another government warning. Will the minister stop issuing warnings, do what she said she was going to do and start enforcing Stelco's employment commitments?
Carlos Leitão LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, that is precisely what we are doing. We are making sure that Stelco respects its commitments under the Investment Canada Act. We are following the process. In 15 days, if nothing happens, legal action will be taken.
Our aim has always been to protect Canadian workers and the Canadian industry. That is what we have been doing, and that is what we will continue to do.
Michael Guglielmin Conservative Vaughan—Woodbridge, ON
Mr. Speaker, every single day, it seems like the Liberals' timeline keeps changing. There are so many things they could do right now to increase competitiveness in this industry. First, they could enforce the contracts they have. Second, this industry needs more customers, competitive costs and market access, yet the industrial carbon tax remains, American tariffs remain and workers face layoffs.
Conservatives would eliminate the industrial carbon tax, pre-approve LNG projects to create demand for Canadian steel, and restore access to our largest export market. Will the Prime Minister adopt our proposal so we can give steel and auto workers a fighting chance?
Carlos Leitão LiberalParliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Industry
Mr. Speaker, let us try to make some sense out of all this.
First of all, we never asked for this. Second of all, we are responding to an attack from the U.S. administration. Our aim is to protect Canadian workers and to protect Canadian industries. We will always do that. That is also why the Prime Minister goes abroad sometimes and signs trade deals to diversify our economy so we can protect our industrial base.
Ned Kuruc Conservative Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON
Mr. Speaker, three weeks ago, Stelco laid off 350 Hamilton steelworkers. Two weeks ago, the Liberal minister sent a letter threatening legal action, and today she is giving them another 15 days. The Liberals wrote a similar letter to Stellantis. Eight months later, those workers are still waiting for results.
The minister stated today that “no act of God” can change the commitments made to Canadian workers, so will the Prime Minister finally take Cleveland-Cliffs to court, or is this just another empty Liberal threat?
François-Philippe Champagne LiberalMinister of Finance and National Revenue
Mr. Speaker, I am afraid the member was missing in action yesterday. We just announced with the Government of Ontario more than $8 billion to support a number of sectors in Ontario: our steel sector, our brave men and women who work in the automotive industry and those boosting our critical minerals.
Instead of talking our workers and our industry down, why does he not support the government and work with us to make sure that we keep jobs in Canada and grow our industry and make sure that we build Canada strong together?
Ned Kuruc Conservative Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, ON
Mr. Speaker, the only action missing yesterday was the action not taken for Canadian workers.
Last Friday, the minister said the resolution was a “question of days”. Today, she gave them another two weeks. Stelco's third quarter this year was the strongest since 2024, yet Cleveland-Cliffs still broke the job commitments it made when it bought Stelco. Its CEO even praised President Trump on his unjustified tariffs on Canada.
We cannot let Canada and its workers be bullied by President Trump and his buddies. Will the Prime Minister file a lawsuit today, yes or no?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
Mr. Speaker, the question has been asked and answered, but I will ask a question. Why is it that this opposition party cannot stand with Canadians, the Province of Ontario and the premier, as we have, to protect steel workers, to protect the steel industry, to protect the automotive industry and, yes, to invest in the Ring of Fire in northern Ontario? I know the member of Parliament for Kenora has written about the Ring of Fire.
Why are they not applauding that investment? Why are they not applauding the kind of critical mineral exploration and development that our country needs? It is appalling.
Connie Cody Conservative Cambridge, ON
Mr. Speaker, the damage from Canada's steel crisis is not stopping at the steel mill. Stelco is idling its coating lines and laying off workers, and the downstream industry is taking a hit.
A stamping manufacturer in my community of Cambridge bought its steel from Stelco for years. Now that the supply is gone, it is not able to source what it needs. It will lose its contracts and customers because it cannot get its steel in time. That is more jobs that will be gone for good.
What is the Prime Minister going to do to keep these businesses open and Canadians working?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
Mr. Speaker, I have some good news for workers in Cambridge and all across Ontario. The Premier of Ontario and the Prime Minister stood together yesterday and said that they were going to control the things they can control. One of the things we can control is investing in our companies to make sure they can produce steel for the automotive sector, for the critical industries that are powering our nation and, yes, for the critical mineral sector in northern Ontario. Guess what. We believe in doing things. The opposition is going to stand up and complain time and again, but we are going to stand up for workers.
Connie Cody Conservative Cambridge, ON
Mr. Speaker, throwing more money at the problem will not produce the steel this company needs at this time. How does this make industry more competitive?
Conservatives have a plan to eliminate the industrial carbon tax, to pre-approve LNG projects that create demand for Canadian steel and to restore access to our largest export market. If this Cambridge manufacturer cannot secure the material it needs, it will be forced to shut down. Families will lose their paycheques, and customers and contracts will leave Canada.
We have a serious proposal to save Canadian jobs. Will the Prime Minister adopt our plan and give businesses a fighting chance?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
Mr. Speaker, we actually have a serious proposal to save jobs, and we are putting the money behind it. What we are not doing is standing up there and criticizing every single idea—
Steel and Aluminum IndustryOral Questions
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
Mr. Speaker, when industry speaks and tells the Government of Canada and the Province of Ontario what kinds of supports they need, we listen. We listen, because we know we can actually pivot these industries and support Canadian workers. When northern Ontario puts its hand up and says it wants to be part of the solution and wants faster action on the Ring of Fire, we partner with Ontario. We build those roads. That is what we are doing. We are working hard every day for Canadian workers, and that is how we stand together as a country.
Scot Davidson Conservative New Tecumseth—Gwillimbury, ON
Mr. Speaker, last week the Minister of Industry was on Bay Street saying, “We used to be able to transform aluminum in Canada, and we don't anymore.” The minister should know there are over 80,000 Canadians employed in the downstream aluminum industry right now whose jobs are at risk. Her comments saying the industry does not exist are a slap in the face to every one of those workers.
Why is she already writing the industry's obituary when it is the Liberals' failure to get a deal that is killing these jobs?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
Mr. Speaker, the only thing I hear in the House of Commons today is the members of Parliament from the Conservative Party who have clearly given up. We are not chasing after things that we actually cannot bring to fruition. We are working on the things we can control. When the Premier of Ontario, the aluminum industry, the steel industry, the automotive industry and the critical mineral industry say this is what we need, we invest in those industries. We invest in the workforce that we need. We support workers when their jobs are at risk.
All I see from these guys is them voting against Canadians, voting against workers, criticizing provinces and—
Steel and Aluminum IndustryOral Questions
Andrew Lawton Conservative Elgin—St. Thomas—London South, ON
Mr. Speaker, Canadians cannot afford the Liberal government. Candace is a 25-year-old mother from Aylmer who has applied without success to over 500 jobs. Here is what she wrote me: “Every day I wake up wondering how I am supposed to provide for my family. My husband's income alone is no longer enough to cover our mortgage, vehicle expenses, groceries, utilities and the necessities our daughter needs. If I cannot find employment soon, we may lose our home and be forced to move.”
She is not alone. Will the Liberals admit that this is now the new normal in their Canada?
Patty Hajdu LiberalMinister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario
Mr. Speaker, I do not know Candace's background, but I can tell members this. We are working hard to make sure every single Canadian has a pathway into good jobs. Not only that, there are great jobs out there. We are making sure that people have the skills that they need to take up those good jobs. I would be happy to correspond with Candace and tell her about some of the work that we are doing and some of the opportunities that exist across this country. If we cannot all stand up for people like Candace, then we are really not doing our job. I would say that the member could guide that constituent to—
EmploymentOral Questions
The Speaker Francis Scarpaleggia
I can barely hear the minister because of the member for Vernon.
The minister has a couple of seconds left.
Patty Hajdu Liberal Thunder Bay—Superior North, ON
Mr. Speaker, when members of Parliament have letters like that from constituents, it is important to share that information. I am very glad that member of Parliament has. I hope that he is telling Candace about the opportunities that exist for her and her family.