Sébastien Lemire

“Mr. Speaker, I will be splitting my time today with the member for Compton—Stanstead. It is an honour and a privilege to rise in the House today to reaffirm the Government of Canada’s commitment to the buy Canadian policy. I am incredibly proud of how this initiative is transforming government procurement, giving Canadian businesses, workers, manufacturers and suppliers greater access to opportunities, and delivering real results for Canadians. As the member of Parliament for Kanata, and Canada’s largest technology park with over 800 companies, this policy has a meaningful impact. Our government will always stand with Canadian workers and Canadian businesses, and that is how we will build the strongest economy in the G7. We remain as committed as ever to prioritizing Canadian suppliers and Canadian-made goods and services in federal procurement. This is a pledge that we have made to Canadians, and it is unwavering. Since it came into force in December of last year, the buy Canadian policy has been reshaping how the federal government spends by prioritizing Canadian content, materials, suppliers and workers at every opportunity. From steel and aluminum to wood products, the government’s purchasing of goods and services is being used as a powerful tool to back key industries and strengthen domestic supply chains. The rollout of the buy Canadian policy marked a major step towards building a more resilient Canadian economy. It is designed to ensure clear advantages are available to suppliers who invest, innovate and produce here at home. By prioritizing Canadian suppliers, Canadian materials and Canadian content in federal procurement, we are becoming our own best customer. By reducing reliance on any single trading partner and building resilience through strong domestic demand, we are bolstering Canada’s economy. The policy on prioritizing Canadian suppliers and Canadian content in strategic federal procurements initially applied to procurements valued at $25 million and above. However, in June, we lowered that threshold to $5 million, significantly broadening its reach. We are also putting Canadian materials at the centre of major federal construction and defence projects. For procurements of $25 million or more, the policy requires Canadian-produced steel, aluminum and wood. We are also making it easier for Canadian small businesses to compete for federal opportunities through the small business procurement program, which will simplify procurement processes and introduce new digital tools. Ultimately, the test of this policy is whether federal spending creates economic activity here at home. In the spirit of the buy Canadian policy, the government continues to identify opportunities for Canadian suppliers to benefit from federal procurement policies, and ultimately support Canadian workers, businesses and communities. This includes attracting investments that deliver tangible and lasting benefits to Canadian communities and supply chains. This is all about driving growth, creating opportunities and enhancing prosperity for Canadians. In a more dangerous and volatile world, this has never been more important, particularly when it comes to protecting Canada’s sovereignty. We know that the world has changed and Canada must change with it. That is why Canada is also making generational investments to rebuild, rearm and reinvest in the Canadian Armed Forces. These investments are guided by Canada’s first-ever defence industrial strategy, a whole-of-government approach to transform Canada’s defence industry. This strategy will prioritize Canadian suppliers and materials, invest in Canadian innovation and commercialization, and streamline defence procurement. It is supported by the new Defence Investment Agency. This is yet another tool with which we are delivering greater strategic autonomy and economic benefits for Canada. These efforts are already making a difference. Between December 2025 and October 1, 2026, Public Services and Procurement Canada, the government’s central purchaser, awarded a total of 1,644 new contracts worth about $23 billion. Of those contracts, 1,372, representing about $17.7 billion, were awarded to suppliers operating in Canada. That is the kind of progress we want to build on. With regard to today’s motion, the Canada Revenue Agency, following a fair and open procurement process, decided to award this contract to a company that operates extensively in Canada and employs Canadian security guards, supervisors and managers. This brings me to an important point about what we mean when we talk about Canadian suppliers. Being a Canadian supplier is not simply a question of who owns the shares of a company. We also need to look at where the economic activity takes place. Under the buy Canadian policy, the definition of a Canadian supplier is based on substantive economic activity in Canada. That includes having a place of business here, being registered and filing taxes here, and conducting ongoing activities and employing people in Canada to deliver goods and services. That distinction matters. A company can be part of a global enterprise and still employ thousands of Canadians. It can pay taxes here. It can operate facilities here. It can conduct research and development here. It can purchase from Canadian suppliers and invest in Canadian communities. Those jobs are Canadian jobs. Those investments are investments in Canada. That economic activity matters to Canada. That is why our approach looks not only at the name or nationality of a parent company, but also at the economic value being created right here in Canada. In fact, Canadian content under the policy can include salaries and services delivered in Canada; research, design and testing carried out here; Canadian software development and systems integration; and Canadian installation, maintenance and training. That approach also sends a powerful message to international companies. If they want to do business with the Government of Canada, they need to invest in Canada, build in Canada and create value in Canada. That is an important part of what buy Canadian is intended to achieve. Buy Canadian is not simply about where a company’s headquarters are located. It is about where the jobs are, where the investment is, where the innovation happens, where the supply chain is built and ultimately where the economic benefits land. We continue to work closely with businesses, suppliers and stakeholders to develop and refine procurement measures that support Canadian industry, strengthen supply chains and drive our country’s economic growth. Our government will always stand with Canadian workers and Canadian businesses. We will build the strongest economy in the G7. We will always support our veterans with job opportunities. I want to assure this House that we are fully committed to our buy Canadian policy, the substantial opportunities it is providing for Canadians and the powerful benefits it is providing to our country. We have shifted from an approach of “best effort” to a clear obligation to support Canadian industries, and we are transforming our economy while we do it. Through buy Canadian, we are supporting our industries today while keeping a clear focus on a sustainable future. That is our promise to Canadians, one that we are delivering on.”