Discussion · Government Orders
Alexis Brunelle-Duceppe Bloc Québécois
“We proposed paying part of workers' wages to help businesses hurt by tariffs keep their staff until we reach a deal with the Americans. I want the parliamentary secretary to tell me if he supports this plan, and if not, why.”
“Mr. Speaker, I have a fairly simple question for the parliamentary secretary. We are here in good faith. The Bloc Québécois always comes forward with proposals. We are not an opposition party that opposes everything just for the sake of opposing it. We come forward with proposals. One of the proposals we put forward—which, incidentally, comes from several stakeholders currently affected by the tariffs—is a wage subsidy program designed for businesses impacted by the tariffs. This would help retain jobs and preserve expertise. It would ease the transition until an agreement is reached with the Americans. On this specific point, does my colleague support the Bloc Québécois’s proposal to implement such a wage subsidy? If he does not support this proposal, I would like him to explain why.”
Mr. Speaker, I have a fairly simple question for the parliamentary secretary. We are here in good faith. The Bloc Québécois always comes forward with proposals. We are not an opposition party that opposes everything just for the sake of opposing it. We come forward with proposals. One of the proposals we put forward—which, incidentally, comes from several stakeholders currently affected by the tariffs—is a wage subsidy program designed for businesses impacted by the tariffs. This would help retain jobs and preserve expertise. It would ease the transition until an agreement is reached with the Americans. On this specific point, does my colleague support the Bloc Québécois’s proposal to implement such a wage subsidy? If he does not support this proposal, I would like him to explain why.