International Trade  Mr. Speaker, what the member opposite is saying is simply mistaken. This is an improvement for workers across this country, particularly steel and aluminum workers. We worked very hard with all parties, with our Mexican counterparts, with the Democrats and the Republicans, to ensure that this was a win-win-win for all three countries.

International Trade  Mr. Speaker, the new NAFTA represents a net gain for aluminum workers. We stood up for them not only by getting the punitive section 232 tariffs lifted, but also by defending access to American markets. We made sure that at least 70% of the aluminum used in North American automobile production will come from North America.

Foreign Affairs  Mr. Speaker, over the past year, we have been working at all levels to ensure the safety of the Canadians being detained, and indeed continue to advocate for their release as we stand up for our canola farmers, as we protect our beef and pork exporters and as we continue to engage with this important trading partner, while at the same time standing up for human rights every step of the way.

International Trade  Mr. Speaker, allow me to set the record straight, because the hon. member across the way does not have his facts right. NAFTA is a win for aluminum workers. From now on, under this agreement, 70% of the aluminum used in North American automotive production will come from North America.

International Trade  Mr. Speaker, we agreed to improvements to the new NAFTA that strengthened environmental protection, strengthened labour protection, improved the automotive rules of origin, improved the protection of intellectual property and settled a stronger state-to-state dispute settlement.

International Trade  Mr. Speaker, let me be very clear. The new NAFTA, including the amendments we signed yesterday, is a win for aluminum workers. We are very proud of our record of standing up for aluminum workers, and we will continue to stand up for them. We are now ensuring that 70% of the aluminum used in North American automotive production will come from North America, and most of that will come from Quebec.

International Trade  Mr. Speaker, allow me to take this moment to congratulate heartily the entire Canadian team for the great negotiation, and particularly our Deputy Prime Minister, the member for University—Rosedale. We strengthened environmental protections, we strengthened the support for workers and we moved forward on strengthened intellectual property and automotive rules of origin.

The Economy  Mr. Speaker, we made a very different choice than the Conservatives did. Instead of the cuts and austerity that the Conservatives put forward, we based our economic approach on investing in Canadians, on investing in their communities, on understanding that building a stronger future means giving everyone a real and fair chance to succeed.

The Economy  Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to have the opportunity to talk about what we have been able to do for Canadians. We watched Canadians create over a million new jobs over the past four years. Our policies that invested in Canadians and their families have actually lifted over 900,000 Canadians out of poverty, including 300,000 kids.

Employment Insurance  Mr. Speaker, we are all doing our job here in the House of Commons to properly represent and especially serve millions of Canadians, who all have their own challenges. I am always very happy to meet with people we can serve better, to listen to their priorities and to learn from their stories.

Taxation  Mr. Speaker, the middle-class tax cut we are putting forward today will not only lift tens of thousands of people out of poverty, it will allow hundreds of thousands more to not have to pay income taxes at all. We know that by lowering taxes for around 20 million Canadians, we will make an appreciable difference in the lives of many people.

Health  Mr. Speaker, over the last mandate we were pleased to work out health transfers with the provinces. We signed agreements with all 10 provinces and three territories to move forward on funding for health care on things like home care, mental health services and others. We know there is more to do, which is why we allocated $6 billion in our electoral platform for investments in our health care system, including things like universal pharmacare.

Foreign Affairs  Mr. Speaker, our heart goes out to the two Canadians detained in China unjustly. Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor have spent a long time in detention in China. We think of their families, we think of their communities. We think of their loved ones, but we also stay focused on them, as we have over the past year.

Foreign Affairs  Mr. Speaker, we have been very clear over the past months in our support for the people of Hong Kong in defence of their human rights. We have been long-standing supporters of the one country, two systems principle and the rule of law. We have been calling consistently for a de-escalation of violence and hostilities and have asked the authorities to engage in a respectful and non-violent manner with the citizens of Hong Kong, including those 300,000 Canadians for whom we are very concerned.

Employment Insurance  Mr. Speaker, we know that far too many Canadians are grappling with serious illnesses and are worried about being able to get the treatment they need and relying on family. We know that it is important to increase EI benefits for the sick. We know that many, many families are suffering because of this.