Terry Beech

“Mr. Speaker, by prioritizing Canadian suppliers, Canadian materials and Canadian content in federal procurement, we are becoming our own best customer. By reducing our 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 or more. In June, we lowered that threshold to $5 million, significantly expanding its reach. We are also putting Canadian materials at the centre of major federal construction and defence projects. For procurement of $25 million or more, the policy requires Canadian-produced steel, aluminum and wood. We are 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 work to identify opportunities for Canadian suppliers to benefit from federal procurement policies and ultimately support Canadian workers, Canadian businesses and Canadian communities. This includes attracting investments that deliver tangible and lasting benefits to Canadian communities and supply chains. This is about driving growth, creating opportunities and enhancing prosperity for all Canadians. In the current situation we are in, this has never been more important, particularly when it comes to protecting Canada’s sovereignty. We know that the world has changed and that Canada must change with it. That is why Canada is also making generational investments to rebuild 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. The strategy will prioritize Canadian suppliers and materials, invest in Canadian innovation and streamline defence procurement. It is supported by the new Defence Investment Agency. Between December 2025 and October 1, 2026, Public Services and Procurement Canada awarded a total of 1,644 new contracts worth roughly $23 billion. Of these, 1,342 contracts, representing about $17.7 billion, were awarded to suppliers operating here 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 the contract to a company that operates extensively in Canada and employs Canadian security guards, supervisors and managers. This brings me to an important point of what we mean when we talk about a Canadian supplier. 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 Canadian supplier is based on substantive economic activity in Canada. That includes having a place of business here, being registered here, filing taxes here, 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, and it can purchase from Canadian suppliers and invest in Canadian communities. Those jobs are Canadian jobs. Those investments are investments in Canada, and that economic activity matters to Canadians and Canada. Buy Canadian is not simply about where a company’s headquarters is 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, and we will build a stronger 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 for our country. We are transforming our economy through buy Canadian. We are supporting our industries today while keeping a clear focus on this sustainable future. That is our promise to Canadians, which is one that we are delivering on.”