Discussion · Government Orders
Jean-Denis Garon Bloc Québécois
“I do not support this bill. No other NATO or Five Eyes country uses a state-owned corporation to buy defence equipment. Canadian businesses do not even want these government contracts, and politicians will still control the process. The government needs to explain why they are pushing this bill.”
“Mr. Speaker, today we are discussing Bill C‑40, a procurement process that will be demolished by Bill C‑31, which will be passed because it is a budget bill, a confidence vote. Earlier today, the Standing Committee on Finance heard from the Secretary of State for Defence Procurement. I asked him why a new Crown corporation was needed for procurement, which runs counter to Bill C‑40. He replied that our companies do not want government contracts, but rather commercial ones. However, none of the Five Eyes countries or any other NATO member has a Crown corporation, or a state-owned enterprise, that handles procurement. That is evident from the fact that politicians will continue to control the procurement process. I would like my colleague to tell me why she is selling us this bill that Canadian businesses want nothing to do with. That is what the secretary of state said this morning.”
Mr. Speaker, today we are discussing Bill C‑40, a procurement process that will be demolished by Bill C‑31, which will be passed because it is a budget bill, a confidence vote. Earlier today, the Standing Committee on Finance heard from the Secretary of State for Defence Procurement. I asked him why a new Crown corporation was needed for procurement, which runs counter to Bill C‑40. He replied that our companies do not want government contracts, but rather commercial ones. However, none of the Five Eyes countries or any other NATO member has a Crown corporation, or a state-owned enterprise, that handles procurement. That is evident from the fact that politicians will continue to control the procurement process. I would like my colleague to tell me why she is selling us this bill that Canadian businesses want nothing to do with. That is what the secretary of state said this morning.