Marie-Hélène Gaudreau

“Mr. Speaker, I would like to start by saying I will be sharing my time with the member for Surrey Newton. I welcome the opportunity to debate the motion from the hon. member for Battle River—Crowfoot. At a time of open challenges to our economic security and sovereignty, I can think of few more pressing public policy issues than the question of where and when key government contracts go to Canadian firms and suppliers. This is at the root of the motion put to us today, and I can assure all members that the government shares this concern. Since last December, the buy Canadian policy has been at the centre of a suite of measures introduced by the Government of Canada to stimulate the growth of Canada’s builders and suppliers. Last September, we launched Build Canada Homes, a new federal agency that is building affordable housing at scale, fuelling a new and thriving housing industry. With an initial investment of $13 billion over five years, Build Canada Homes is investing in the development of public lands sites in partnership with Canadian builders, suppliers, other levels of government and indigenous communities. That investment is already making a difference, with multiple direct-build projects across multiple cities delivering up to 4,000 new homes on federal land, with at least 40% at below market rents. There is also the Defence Investment Agency. The need for a more strategic and responsive approach to defence procurement has long been acknowledged in Canada, but only in the last year has real action been taken. Since its inception last October, the Defence Investment Agency has been delivering for the Canadian Armed Forces while driving investment, innovation and industrial growth by targeting procurements that support strategic defence sectors such as aerospace and advanced manufacturing. The agency is driving the creation of high-quality, skilled jobs to communities across Canada and bolstering our country’s industrial capacity and technological competitiveness. Finally, the Major Projects Office was introduced last year to put transformative, nation-building ideas on a viable path to fruition through the co-operation of federal departments, provinces and territories, indigenous peoples and industry. The goal is to identify projects with maximum benefit for Canadians. For example, just last month, the government announced that the new west coast pipeline, known as Pacific link, would be listed as a project of national interest. Whether it is the need for affordable housing, state-of-the-art defence capabilities or major infrastructure, these initiatives do not simply recognize the great reservoir of talent and experience within Canadian industry. They bank on it, and so does the buy Canadian policy. In fact, the policy is something of a common thread that runs through all these initiatives. The buy Canadian policy prioritizes Canadian suppliers and materials, strengthens supply chains and incentivizes Canadian content in strategic federal procurements. It applies to the ongoing work of the Major Projects Office, the Defence Investment Agency, Build Canada Homes and Crown corporations and their subsidies, as well as the hundreds of federal grants and contributions programs. In just over eight months, between December and October, Public Services and Procurement Canada awarded over 1,600 new contracts, worth approximately $23.8 billion. Of these, roughly 1,340 contracts totalling $17.7 billion were awarded to suppliers operating in Canada. These efforts are transforming local communities across the country with long-term, well-paying job opportunities for skilled workers. Last February, Kitchener’s Colt Canada was awarded a $307-million contract to supply the Canadian Armed Forces with assault rifle systems under the Canadian modular assault rifle project. By investing in local expertise, we are ensuring that the forces are ready for the challenges ahead. In August, the government awarded a $768.6-million construction services contract to PCL Constructors Canada for the full construction of a new federal regulatory science facility at the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s Ottawa laboratory in Nepean, Ontario. On average, the site will employ about 250 workers a day. Also last summer, the government announced an investment of $2 billion over four years to General Dynamics Land Systems-Canada to build 190 armoured combat support vehicles. This strategic partnership is truly a pan-Canadian feat of co-operation, with several companies supporting the effort. Ryan Manufacturing in Richmond, BC, will supply military-grade cable and wire harness assemblies. InterPro in Regina, Saskatchewan, will supply advanced armour. Thales Canada in Saint-Laurent, Quebec, will supply thermal imaging systems. IMP Aerospace and Defence in Enfield, Nova Scotia, will supply other specialized components. The difference under the buy Canadian policy is that Canadian suppliers are now prioritized as a matter of practice. Suppliers must demonstrate that they meet the policy requirements, including through eligibility and Canadian content attestations, and the government has put compliance and monitoring mechanisms in place. The buy Canadian policy goes beyond giving preference to Canadian suppliers. In strategic federal procurements covered by the policy, bids receive additional evaluation points for higher proportions of Canadian content and value added activities, such as manufacturing and research development. This encourages businesses to source more from Canadian partners, extending opportunities to Canadian firms that supply components, materials and expertise. Our goal is to create an incentive for businesses to do more in Canada and to have more Canadian workers, more Canadian suppliers in their supply chains, more Canadian manufacturing, more Canadian research and development, and more investment in Canadian facilities and communities. In conclusion, it was said once that the world needs more Canada. With these policies and programs, the government is taking the position that Canada needs more Canada. International co-operation with trusted partners, both public and private, will always be a part of our efforts as a responsible federal government, but if the last two years have taught us anything, it is that our future is best placed in our own hands. We have made significant progress in less than a year, but this is not the finish line. We will continue expanding opportunities for Canadian businesses, strengthening Canadian supply chains and ensuring that federal government procurement serves as an economic lever for this country, because federal procurement is more than just purchases; it is an opportunity to build Canadian capacity, support Canadian workers and invest in Canada’s economic future. This is the essence of the buy Canadian policy, and I look forward to seeing where it takes us in the years ahead.”