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Steeve Lavoie

Liberal on Budget 2025 Implementation Act, No. 2

Replying to Ted Falk (Conservative)
“Mr. Speaker, I have a question about the minister who would be responsible for the Defence Investment Agency. The minister would be able, for no reason, to disqualify a company for procurement purposes without explanation or justification and with no avenue for appeal. The minister would also have the ability to sole-source contracts without any accountability. Does the member have a good understanding of why the Liberals have abandoned basic fairness in tendering? Why have they chosen to not be transparent in the process?”

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Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question about the investment agency and defence. I gave a speech on this issue because it is so important. I worked in banking for 20 years helping businesses secure funding. Often, when there are new investments or new calls for tenders like these, businesses are unable to adapt. Banks also have a hard time adapting. By setting up this investment agency, which will be able to grant loans, offer insurance and provide guarantees to banks, we will help this sector grow. We are talking about companies that would like to contribute but that are unable to because they lack the liquidity, agility or time to do all that. This agency will enable SMEs to grow and contribute to the defence sector. This is where we need to step in to help the defence sector.