Rémi Massé

[Automotive Industry, May 1st, 2019]

Our government has worked hard to maintain free trade in the markets where we currently do business and has opened up new markets to help diversify our trade strategy—

[Automotive Industry, May 1st, 2019]

Mr. Speaker, as I said earlier, our government has committed to building on Canada's strengths by promoting innovation, investment, growth and trade in the automotive industry to create quality jobs for Canadians—

[Automotive Industry, May 1st, 2019]

Mr. Speaker, I am happy to respond to the comments of the member for Windsor West regarding the auto industry and, more specifically, the situation in Oshawa.

As we and the minister have repeatedly said, General Motors made a mistake when it announced the closure of the Oshawa assembly plant. The minister made our position clear to GM's CEO, Ms. Barra, at a meeting in Detroit in January.

We want the workers in Oshawa and all Canadians to know that we are committed to ensuring the growth, strength and diversification of Canada's economy. We remain committed to keeping the Canadian auto industry competitive and innovative.

Canada's automotive industry is centred in the heart of North America's largest vehicle producing region, known as the “Great Lakes automotive manufacturing cluster”. Canada's automotive sector is highly integrated within the North American framework, with free trade between Canada and the U.S. dating back to 1965 and trilateral trade, including Mexico, growing since the introduction of the North American Free Trade Agreement. It is a significant driver for our economy and remains one of Canada's largest manufacturing sectors.

Some members may not be aware of this, but despite producing less than one-fifth of all vehicles in North America, Canada's assembly plants have won one-third of all J.D. Power quality awards in North America over the last 30 years.

Contrary to what the hon. member thinks, we do have a strategy for the automotive sector.

Our government has taken measures including creating the $2-billion strategic innovation fund to attract large-scale investments. The government also created the Invest in Canada agency and launched the global skills strategy. All of these measures aim to make Canada's automotive sector more competitive. These changes have brought in more than $6 billion in investments to the automotive sector since 2015.

This plan achieved real results on Monday, when Toyota and the Prime Minister announced that the company will move production of the Lexus NX and the leading-edge Lexus NX hybrid to its Cambridge plant. This plant will manufacture these models for the entire North American market.

Canada remains uniquely positioned to design and build the cars of today and tomorrow. Canada is a natural home for automotive innovation, with strengths to leverage that include a mature automotive cluster, expertise in advanced technologies, a highly skilled workforce and strong R and D capacity. Canada's competitive advantages align with the future of the global automotive industry, and the automotive sector is well positioned to compete for innovative investments in R and D and vehicle production.

Contrary to what the hon. member may think, our government does have a plan for our country's automotive industry. It works, and we remain committed to it.

[Automotive Industry, April 30th, 2019]

Madam Speaker, it is unfortunate that the hon. member across the way is playing politics with an issue like this. If she had listened to the Minister of Transport explain the program, she would know that the Pacifica is part of the program.

As I said earlier, we believe that General Motors made a mistake closing the assembly plant in Oshawa. Our government is committed to investing in innovation and skills development in order to ensure that Canadians and Canadian companies can succeed in the economy of tomorrow. These initiatives will help ensure that the Canadian workforce has the advanced manufacturing expertise employers will need in the economy of tomorrow.

[Automotive Industry, April 30th, 2019]

Mr. Speaker, as we have stated several times, we believe that General Motors made a mistake when it closed the Oshawa assembly plant, and that is what the minister told GM's CEO at a meeting in Detroit last January.

We know that the plant closure will have an impact that ripples through the community. We want these workers and all Canadians to know that we are committed to ensuring the prosperity of Canada's economy.

The minister has spoken and continues to work with the Government of Ontario to coordinate our efforts to ensure that the measures we implement meet the needs of workers who may be seriously impacted by these decisions.

The minister has also been speaking and working with Unifor as our government delivers on our commitment to the workers of Oshawa and Windsor, their families, automotive suppliers and the broader community.

We were delighted to learn that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles was able to commit to an investment of $355 million U.S. in the Windsor facilities for a future product.

Manufacturing has traditionally been an excellent source of well-paying jobs, especially in the auto sector. Our government wants to ensure that Canadians continue to have access to these and many other well-paying, middle-class jobs. We have a plan to do exactly that.

Auto manufacturing is a touchstone of Canada’s economy and has a bright and promising future. It is an integral part of our government’s forward-looking, ambitious and comprehensive innovation and skills plan. We are investing in innovation and skills development today so that Canadians and Canadian companies can succeed in the economy of tomorrow. Through programs like the strategic innovation fund, we have helped secure major investments and re-investments in Canada’s other auto assembly plants.

Since 2015, automobile manufacturers have invested over $6 billion in Canada on major upgrades to equipment, advanced manufacturing technology, and expanded research and development. Yes, I said $6 billion.

Our partnership with automotive manufacturers has supported the production of next-generation vehicles and is positioning Canada to be a leader in the development of car-of-the-future technologies that will focus on autonomous, connected and cleaner vehicles. These investments will strengthen the automotive sector's presence in Canada and provide well-paying jobs and opportunities for Canadians for years to come. Our plan is working and is having tangible results.

In fact, we saw the results of this plan yesterday, when Toyota announced that it will start manufacturing the Lexus NX and the leading-edge Lexus NX hybrid at its plant in Cambridge, Ontario. That plant will manufacture these models for the entire North American market.

The jobs of the future will demand specialized training, and we are working to ensure that Canadians are trained in current and in-demand technologies.

Canada retains a mature automotive cluster, and we are building expertise in advanced technologies, a highly skilled workforce, and strong research and development capacity. All of it is part of our comprehensive plan to ensure Canada's success in the future economy, in the auto industry and every industry.

Businesses have confidence in Canada and in Canadian workers, and they know that we are ready to build the cars of tomorrow.

[Statistics Canada, April 30th, 2019]

Madam Speaker, let me reiterate that, of course, the Government of Canada is committed to protecting Canadians' privacy and that personal information related to data collected by Statistics Canada has always been and will always be protected.

I repeat, no data was collected as part of the banking data collection pilot project because it was still at the design stage. Statistics Canada will not proceed with the pilot project until Canadians' privacy concerns have been addressed and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner of Canada has done its work.

[Statistics Canada, April 30th, 2019]

Madam Speaker, I am pleased to respond to the question from my colleague from Windsor West. I would like to focus on Statistics Canada's pilot project to collect banking information.

I want to remind Canadians that this pilot project was still at the design stage and that no data was collected from banks.

Statistics Canada understands Canadians' concerns. The chief statistician made it very clear that Statistics Canada will not proceed with this pilot project until Canadians' privacy concerns are addressed and the Office of the Privacy Commissioner has done its work.

We are living in a society and digital economy that are evolving rapidly, and official statistics must reflect this reality. Quality statistical data helps us better understand important issues like housing, tourism and cannabis.

Understanding Canadians' participation in the digital economy is important. For example, information about how people spend their money and what they spend it on is used to calculate the consumer price index, the CPI, which is a factor in many important decisions that Canadians and Canadian businesses make, such as saving for retirement and employer-employee compensation agreements.

We count on Statistics Canada's world-class expertise to provide us with good statistics that enable us to make major evidence-based decisions. Statistics Canada has a solid reputation when it comes to protecting personal information.

I want to make it very clear to all members and all Canadians tuning in right now that Statistics Canada collected no personal information or data from banks as part of the pilot project on banking data collection.

As I stated, and as Parliament's chief statistician also said, the project is on hold until Canadians' concerns have been addressed.

[Automotive Industry, April 12th, 2019]

Mr. Speaker, our government has always been committed to supporting auto workers, their families and the industry as a whole. Our government has invested over $5.6 billion in the auto sector, which has served to created and maintain tens of thousands of jobs since we took office.

For example, we invested $110 million in Toyota facilities in Cambridge, $49 million in Linamar facilities in Guelph and $41.8 million in Honda facilities in Alliston. The list is a long one. Our government has made it clear that it will continue to invest in the auto sector to support the development and manufacture of the vehicles of the future.

[Science and Technology, April 11th, 2019]

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Don Valley North for his question. Our government has launched a new space strategy based on exploration, imagination and innovation. The strategy aims to leverage Canadian strengths, while advancing science and innovation in exciting areas. Our space strategy will also capitalize on the inspirational power of space to engage youth in science, technology and engineering.

Our government is ensuring that Canadians are ready to take on the jobs of tomorrow.

[French Language, February 6th, 2019]

Mr. Speaker, we will never apologize for speaking French in the House.

I want to remind my colleagues that the first French words were heard in the new continent when Jacques Cartier set foot in Gaspé and met the Mi'kmaq nation in July 1534 .

Our language is a living language here and around the world. The Francophonie has 90 member states representing 284 million individuals who speak French. French is a vibrant language, it is a beautiful language, it is our language and the language of both our ancestors and our children. It represents and defines who we are as a country.

Franco-Ontarians have been attacked by the Ford government, and the Conservatives opposite criticized my colleague yesterday for speaking French in the House.

We will never apologize for speaking French. I am proud of my language and my culture, and I am proud to be part of a government that defends the French language.