Judy Sgro

[Resumption of Debate on Address in Reply, June 2nd, 2025]

Mr. Speaker, you look great in that robe and in your new role. You certainly have worked hard, and it is great to see you there. I send my congratulations to you and to your family. I am sure they are very proud of what you are doing.

I will be sharing my time with the new member for Cardigan following the retirement of the Hon. Lawrence MacAulay. When someone says “Cardigan”, we automatically, after so many years, think about Mr. MacAulay, who did such a great job representing Cardigan. I wish him well in his retirement.

I am honoured to rise for the first time in the House during the 45th Parliament. I also want to thank the constituents of Humber River—Black Creek for re-electing me and asking me to represent them here in the House again. Since I came in during a by-election in 1999, this is, I believe, the 10th time I have had an opportunity to be in the House. It was an honour then, and it continues to be a tremendous honour today. It is an accomplishment, I have to admit. I am not quite sure how I managed all those years, but clearly we did.

I want to thank His Majesty King Charles III for delivering the Speech from the Throne. I will quote from it because I think it captures how we are all feeling today and the direction we want to go. He said:

We must be clear-eyed: the world is a more dangerous and uncertain place than at any point since the Second World War. Canada is facing challenges that are unprecedented in our lifetimes.

Many Canadians are feeling anxious and worried about the drastically changing world around them. Fundamental change is always unsettling. Yet this moment is also an incredible opportunity.

It is an opportunity for each and every one of us who has the privilege of being a member of the House of Commons. His Majesty continued:

An opportunity to think big and to act bigger. An opportunity for Canada to embark on the largest transformation of its economy since the Second World War. A confident Canada, which has welcomed new Canadians, including from some of the most tragic global conflict zones, can seize this opportunity by recognising that all Canadians can give themselves far more than any foreign power on any continent can ever take away. And that by staying true to Canadian values, Canada can build new alliances and a new economy that serves all Canadians.

I think the speech captured very much, in those comments, how Canadians are feeling. They are feeling nervous and anxious. Every time we put the television on, we are never quite sure what our neighbour to the south is going to say.

I think it is imperative that we take the opportunity the leadership from our Prime Minister is clearly giving us. It is an opportunity to participate together and for all of us in the House to work together to make sure that Canadians have the best opportunities possible so that our country can grow to be what we want it to be, but we must work together. Without us working together, we are not going to achieve these things. I continue to ask that we co-operate with each other and that we put Canadians and our country first, no matter what.

Today, of course, I rise with this message to talk about purpose and unity for Canada. Together, we stand at not only a critical time, but also an opportune time. The government is here to renew our commitment to the Canada we are shaping for today and the future, together with all my colleagues in the House.

As a nation, we must continue walking the path of truth and reconciliation. A tremendous amount of work was done under our previous prime minister, and it needs to continue, grounding our future in justice and respect for indigenous people. Canada is proudly multicultural, bilingual and democratic. The riding of Humber River—Black Creek, which I am honoured to represent, is one of the most diverse ridings. Families from every corner of the globe create a community where they build new lives, speak dozens of languages and bring their unique cultures to strengthen Canada and our community.

We will eliminate international trade barriers and launch national infrastructure projects through the one Canadian economy. I wish all the premiers and the Prime Minister tremendous luck and faith today as they move to identify not only those transformational projects that really matter to other parts of Canada but also how we are going to work together to achieve them.

When I first came here almost 25 years ago, I headed a task force. In that task force report, one of the recommendations, and this was in 2001, was to eliminate interprovincial barriers. It was clearly a significant roadblock for the economic well-being of all of our provinces, yet here we are in 2025. Only after the threats from our southern neighbour are we actually trying to remove those interprovincial barriers. I wish all of our premiers well at this particular time as they move forward.

With the new “build Canada homes” initiative, we will increase the affordable housing supply, reduce development costs and promote innovative modular construction. I have received a lot of information on the housing file, as many of my colleagues have. With regard to the prefab homes, there is the ability to put up some of these homes within a month. This is a critical time for us to be looking at how we can change the way we have been doing things and remove the red tape we have all talked about so we can move forward on this.

Canada is a global leader in clean energy, skilled trades and innovation, as well as international relations, security and public safety, which are all critically important themes as we move forward.

To protect our sovereignty, we are reinvesting in the Canadian Armed Forces. Federal investments in the RCMP and national security have to be a priority for the House as we move forward to protect our sovereignty and Canadians. Public safety is not just about policing, though. It is also about prevention, community and trust.

We are strengthening our laws to make bail much more difficult to get for any repeat offenders. We are reforming firearm regulations with stronger red flag laws and yellow flag laws and revoking licenses from those with violent or protective order histories. We have heard far too much about domestic violence happening in our communities, and we have to spend far more time and attention on that issue.

We are going to cap the operating budget growth at under 2% and balance the operating budget within three years. That is a huge goal, one that I believe would be very significant for us to achieve and for all of us to achieve.

We will cut waste. What government does not say that? We will reduce duplication and use technology, though, to improve service delivery across the public sector. It is this new technology that promises the best opportunity for us to do this.

I truly hope that those are not just words. It seems like every government, for the many years that I have been doing this, even at the municipal level, says the same thing. It is really hard to do. It was one of the issues that made me leave the municipal level to come to the federal level, because there was that frustration in trying to reduce waste and cut costs but not having the revenue to do the services we had to do.

Together, we all can build a stronger, safer and a more united Canada.

[Committees of the House, December 17th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I thank my colleague for his best wishes.

Certainly, we recognize the value of our lumber, our minerals and all of the very sacred items we have in Canada that help to keep our country strong and open more opportunities for all of our businesses as we move forward.

[Committees of the House, December 17th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleague who is the vice-chair of the international trade committee. He is doing a fine job and we work well together.

At the end of the day, it is about Canada first all the time, for all of us. All of us in the House have the same destination, to make sure we are doing things.

When it comes to the whole issue of climate change, the Liberal Party of Canada has a plan. I would ask anybody to look at the news, even last night, in spite of all the other things that were on the news. We talked about the amount of destruction happening around the world because of climate change. I believe we have a path forward that will work to try to change the conditions the world is facing.

[Committees of the House, December 17th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I want to acknowledge that my hon. colleague has contributed tremendously to the House. He has made the debates in this House very interesting and quite comical at times.

Certainly, we have put together the Canada-U.S. team of negotiators who are working already, 18 hours a day, on a variety of areas of strength and opportunities that we have to negotiate further with. We have a lot of positive things to offer and we know how to retaliate when necessary.

[Committees of the House, December 17th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I am sorry. I will make sure I do not have that in my notes in the future.

I was also going to mention the former finance minister and the wonderful job she did on the negotiations at that time. I am sure she will be involved in the future as we renegotiate these agreements.

We knew our ability to secure a new agreement, one that would not only preserve but enhance our trading relationships, was paramount to Canada's future. The negotiations were intense and there were moments when it seemed our position would be tested to the limit. However, as always, we stood firm in defence of Canadian workers as a united Canada.

The voices of farmers and businesses were also heard and respected as that negotiation went on. We ensured that the environment and labour standards were prioritized, and we secured a modernized trade agreement, the Canada-United States-Mexico agreement, referred to as CUSMA, that is more than just a trade deal; it is a testament to our commitment to fair, rules-based trade. It is critically important for our future, the future of the U.S. and all of the people who work in both countries.

The CUSMA is a historic agreement that will benefit Canadians for generations to come, as we have seen. It preserves preferential access to the U.S. market while modernizing and expanding provisions on areas like digital trade, intellectual property and dispute resolution. It strengthens protections for our cultural industries, ensures better access to U.S. agricultural markets and provides new opportunity for Canadian businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises. It is a deal that clearly works for Canada and has worked for Canada for many years.

Some of my colleagues in the opposition may argue that the CUSMA is the result of mere luck or that it could have been negotiated differently, but they did not appear at the time. Let us be clear. This agreement is the result of tireless, strategic negotiations led by the Liberal government. We could have chosen to back down, or to accept a bad deal or no deal at all, but that is not the Canadian way and was not in the best interests of Canadian businesses. It was never an option for consideration. We knew what was at stake and we understood that Canada's future was clearly on the line. Our negotiating team, led by our former finance minister, stood firm and delivered.

This is what the Liberal government does. We stand up for Canada and Canadian interests, even when the road ahead is uncertain and challenging. The Liberal Party has a proven track record when it comes to ensuring Canada's interests are protected on the world stage, particularly in relation to the United States. We understand the complexities of this relationship and we know how to navigate the delicate balance of standing firm on our principles while maintaining a productive, co-operative dialogue with our American counterparts.

We also know trade is not the only aspect of our relationship with the U.S. that demands our attention. The security of our citizens, our shared environmental challenges and the technological landscape are just a few of the other areas where co-operation with the U.S. is essential. In each of these areas, we have consistently demonstrated the ability to act in the best interests of all Canadians.

On security, Canada and the United States share one of the closest and most comprehensive defence relationships in the world. Our partnership through NORAD ensures our skies are protected and we work side by side to combat threats like terrorism and organized crime. Our intelligence-sharing agreements ensure we are prepared for any security challenge and we have consistently stood together in support of peace and stability around the globe.

On the environment, we share an obligation to protect our natural shared resources. We have committed to working closely with the U.S. on initiatives to combat climate change, reduce carbon emissions and ensure that both our countries transition to a greener, more sustainable future.

I am thankful for the opportunity to comment on behalf of our trade and all of our colleagues.

[Committees of the House, December 17th, 2024]

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to join this debate today, as chair of the Standing Committee on International Trade. I have to say we have a wonderful group of people on all sides on the committee who really work very well together. It is a privilege to have an opportunity to speak today, this being our last session before the House will rise, and to have a chance to wish everybody a very merry Christmas and a successful 2025.

We find ourselves at a moment in time when the relationship between Canada and the United States is more vital than ever. I want to take this opportunity to speak on a subject that has for decades, not just now, defined the success of our country in many ways: our enduring, deeply rooted relationship with our southern neighbour.

Canada and the United States share a relationship that is clearly the envy of the whole world. We are the closest of allies, connected by a border that spans over 8,000 kilometres, linking us not only geographically but in terms of shared values, history and, of course, our shared culture. From trade to security, from environmental stewardship to technological innovation, our nations are inextricably linked in ways that shape not only our own prosperity but that of the world at large. The dynamic between our two countries is one of collaboration in many ways, mutual respect and a commitment to addressing the complex challenges of our time.

Before I forget to mention it, I am sharing my time with my hon. colleague from Kingston and the Islands. It is always interesting when he chooses to entertain all of us with his last 10 minutes.

In this ever-changing world, it is vital that we, as elected representatives of the Canadian people, uphold the integrity of this partnership. It is vitally important to all of us in the House and, frankly, to all Canadians, that we continue to work on that very issue.

The United States, as we know, is a country with an ever-shifting political landscape. Leadership changes, priorities evolve and, at times, the approach to our relationship with the U.S., as now, may seem a bit uncertain. In the face of these changes, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to protecting and nurturing the Canada-U.S. relationship. It is not just an option for Canada; it is imperative.

Let us be clear: This relationship is foundational to the well-being of every single Canadian. It is critical to our economy and to our security. We are hearing the issues raised around the border, so security is of major importance for all of us. This relationship is critical also to the social fabric that binds us together. Our relationship with the U.S. is the bedrock upon which our shared prosperity is built and the Liberal government has always recognized that, as do the previous governments in the U.S.

Let me take a moment to reflect on one of the most significant recent achievements of our government in terms of Canada-U.S. relations: the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA. The agreement was originally signed in 1994 and had served its purpose well, facilitating the growth of trade and investment between Canada, the U.S. and Mexico. However, the world has changed since 1994 and our economy has evolved. The global trade environment is now vastly different from what it was in 1994, and it has become clear that the old NAFTA, as we now refer to it, was no longer sufficient to meet the needs of our growing industries, workers and communities.

When the previous U.S. administration threatened to withdraw from NAFTA, we understood it was a critical moment. Canada could not allow the agreement to unravel without a fight, and fight we did. Under the leadership of our Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, and the tireless efforts of our team of negotiators, including the—

[Committees of the House, December 17th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, we are here to discuss international trade. I recognize the importance of different things that went on yesterday, but if we are going to have a fruitful debate, I would ask that we focus on the issue at hand. I know my vice-chair and the other members are anxious to add their comments.

[Committees of the House, December 17th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I rise on a point of order. I know I am new here and you do not always get my title quickly, but I want to suggest that we are here to talk about a very important thing, which is a concurrence motion on international trade. If you are trying to keep people on the point, I would suggest that the comments have already made by my hon. colleague, and we should move on to international trade.

[Committees of the House, December 16th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, I truly have the honour today, as we get to the end of 2024, to present, in both official languages, the 23rd report of the Standing Committee on International Trade, entitled “Canada's Supply Chains and Expanded International Trade: Challenges and Measures”, for 2024 and as we move into the future.

[Season's Greetings, December 16th, 2024]

Mr. Speaker, the holidays are a time for celebration but, more importantly, they are a time to make sure that we connect with each other. As we gather with our loved ones, we are reminded of the importance of community and the bonds that unite all of us. Whether we are sharing meals, exchanging gifts or simply enjoying each other's company, these moments remind us of the power of community and support.

This season is also a perfect opportunity to look out for one another, especially those who may feel lonely or in need, making sure that no one is left behind. I want to thank all of the groups and organizations in Humber River—Black Creek, not only during this season but throughout the year, who make sure that our community is well taken care of all the time.

To all of my constituents in Humber River—Black Creek and to my wonderful staff in Toronto and Ottawa, and to all Canadians, I wish a merry Christmas and a happy new year. To all of my colleagues in the House, no matter what party, respect each other and have a very merry Christmas.