Discussion · Government Orders
Marianne Dandurand Liberal
“Our government is using its purchasing power to support Canadian businesses and hire veterans. Our buy Canadian policy prioritizes local suppliers, and we have awarded nearly $18 billion in contracts to Canadian businesses since last December. The recent CRA security contract was awarded fairly through a competitive contest, and the winning company still employs Canadian workers and veterans.”
“Mr. Speaker, the motion we are debating today raises two very important questions. First, how does the government use its purchasing power to support Canadian businesses? Second, how do we recognize the contribution of veterans, including by providing them with employment opportunities after their military service? I agree that both of these questions deserve careful consideration. I will begin with something I think we can all agree on: When the Government of Canada spends taxpayers’ money, those investments should, to the greatest extent possible, help support Canadian businesses, workers and supply chains. The Government of Canada is a major purchaser. Its procurement decisions can make a real difference for Canadian companies that may wish to increase production, invest in new equipment, hire employees, expand their operations and contribute to our economic vitality. That is precisely the objective of our buy Canadian policy. In an unstable global economy, our businesses need certainty, and they need contracts such as those awarded by the Government of Canada. Our goal is for Canada to become its own best customer. The buy Canadian policy came into effect just before the holiday season last year, on December 16, and it marks a significant shift in the way we use public procurement to support our economy. In practical terms, what the buy Canadian policy does is prioritize Canadian suppliers and Canadian content in eligible federal government contracts. It includes requirements to promote the use of Canadian materials, including metal, steel, aluminum and wood, sectors that are currently on the front lines of a trade war with our neighbours. These materials will be used in major construction and defence projects, among others. These are priority areas for the Government of Canada and will see significant investments over the coming years and even decades. We also want to make these contracts much more accessible to small businesses. In June, we lowered the threshold for the buy Canadian policy from $25 million to $5 million, which opens the door to much smaller businesses, such as those found throughout regions like mine. Our policy does not just apply to very large companies. It also applies to small businesses that can bid on contracts worth $5 million. To help these businesses gain access to Canadian contracts, we launched the small business procurement program, which streamlines the process, tailors requirements and helps small and medium-sized enterprises navigate a federal system that, I admit, is not always the simplest. These changes are tangible. Between December of last year and October 1 of this year, Public Services and Procurement Canada awarded nearly $18 billion in contracts to Canadian suppliers. These contracts support jobs here at home, support investment, and support business production across Canada. A policy is not worth much if businesses do not know it exists or do not know how to take advantage of it. I would now like to talk about what we are doing in my riding of Compton—Stanstead to ensure that local businesses can access these contracts. As soon as we started discussing the buy Canadian policy, I invited the Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement to my region. He delivered a presentation to business people. Roughly 75 stakeholders attended the presentation, during which his staff also explained the Canadian procurement process and how businesses, like the ones in my riding, can access it. Many organizations, economic development stakeholders and businesses have come to understand the policy changes, the opportunities these may present to their businesses, as well as how they, in turn, can become suppliers to the Government of Canada. In my view, this is essential. It is not enough simply to announce policies in Ottawa. They need to be promoted on the ground. That is how businesses can take advantage of them. My team and I support businesses that wish to better understand federal procurement opportunities, identify relevant opportunities and learn how to participate in the bidding process. We serve as a bridge between the government’s needs and the expertise that exists in my riding, which the government is not always aware of. We have manufacturing companies, we have many agri-food producers, technology firms, construction contractors and environmental specialists. They may not all provide the same products and services, but they all have something to contribute. When we talk about buying Canadian, we are talking about recognizing the expertise of local businesses. I am thinking in particular of the La Station de Compton cheese factory, which recently won four awards at the 2026 Sélection Caseus competition, including two of the highest honours: Caseus gold for its Alfred le Fermier Grand Cru, which was named the best cheese in Quebec, and the Caseus bronze for its Raclette de Compton au poivre. I must say I have a soft spot for the second one. It holds a special place in my heart. I will go out of my way to eat grilled cheese sandwiches at Compton’s cheese factory. That being said, when the Prime Minister came to town, I presented him with some Alfred le Fermier Grand Cru cheese. I will have to ask him what he thought about it. As I said, two of the best cheeses in Quebec are made in my riding. That, too, is what buying Canadian is about. It is about showcasing outstanding products and the expertise of the local artisans who put us on the map. The motion also raises the matter of the service contract awarded by the Canada Revenue Agency and where veterans fit in when it comes to employment opportunities. Let me be very clear: We recognize veterans’ contributions and the importance of offering them meaningful career prospects after their service ends. The Canadian Corps of Commissionaires plays a very important role in helping us do that. It deserves recognition for its history and its contribution to employing veterans. We also need to consider how the contract was awarded. The CRA ran a competitive bidding process. Businesses were evaluated based on predetermined criteria. Technical merit counted for 60% of the score, price counted for 40%, and the contract was ultimately awarded to the bidder with the highest overall score. The successful supplier has significant operations in Canada and employs thousands of people across the country. According to information provided by the CRA, of the 60 employees covered by this contract, 33 are former security guards who have been rehired and 12 are veterans. This in no way diminishes the importance of supporting the Commissionaires and the veterans they employ, but it does serve as a reminder that we must also take into account the Canadian workers who continue to provide services. Since this motion relates to veterans, and with Remembrance Day approaching, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the contribution that service men and women from my region have made to the defence of our country. The Eastern Townships have a rich military history. In East Clifton stands what is considered to be the oldest cenotaph in Quebec, and possibly in all of Canada. It was erected in 1920 in honour of the soldiers of the First World War. During the Second World War, the municipality of Bury had one of the highest enlistment rates per capita in Canada. Even today, our four reserve units in Sherbrooke, namely the Sherbrooke Hussars, the Fusiliers de Sherbrooke, the 35 Signal Regiment and the 52 Field Ambulance, are recognized for their significant contributions to Canadian Armed Forces missions. I would therefore like to encourage people in our region to take part in the upcoming Remembrance Day ceremonies. There will be nearly 20 of them in my riding of Compton—Stanstead alone, in addition to many others throughout the Eastern Townships. It is important to pay tribute to those who fought in defence of our country. Ultimately, the issues raised by this motion remind us of the same responsibility: to recognize the contributions of the people who build our country and defend it.”
Mr. Speaker, the motion we are debating today raises two very important questions. First, how does the government use its purchasing power to support Canadian businesses? Second, how do we recognize the contribution of veterans, including by providing them with employment opportunities after their military service? I agree that both of these questions deserve careful consideration. I will begin with something I think we can all agree on: When the Government of Canada spends taxpayers’ money, those investments should, to the greatest extent possible, help support Canadian businesses, workers and supply chains. The Government of Canada is a major purchaser. Its procurement decisions can make a real difference for Canadian companies that may wish to increase production, invest in new equipment, hire employees, expand their operations and contribute to our economic vitality. That is precisely the objective of our buy Canadian policy. In an unstable global economy, our businesses need certainty, and they need contracts such as those awarded by the Government of Canada. Our goal is for Canada to become its own best customer. The buy Canadian policy came into effect just before the holiday season last year, on December 16, and it marks a significant shift in the way we use public procurement to support our economy. In practical terms, what the buy Canadian policy does is prioritize Canadian suppliers and Canadian content in eligible federal government contracts. It includes requirements to promote the use of Canadian materials, including metal, steel, aluminum and wood, sectors that are currently on the front lines of a trade war with our neighbours. These materials will be used in major construction and defence projects, among others. These are priority areas for the Government of Canada and will see significant investments over the coming years and even decades. We also want to make these contracts much more accessible to small businesses. In June, we lowered the threshold for the buy Canadian policy from $25 million to $5 million, which opens the door to much smaller businesses, such as those found throughout regions like mine. Our policy does not just apply to very large companies. It also applies to small businesses that can bid on contracts worth $5 million. To help these businesses gain access to Canadian contracts, we launched the small business procurement program, which streamlines the process, tailors requirements and helps small and medium-sized enterprises navigate a federal system that, I admit, is not always the simplest. These changes are tangible. Between December of last year and October 1 of this year, Public Services and Procurement Canada awarded nearly $18 billion in contracts to Canadian suppliers. These contracts support jobs here at home, support investment, and support business production across Canada. A policy is not worth much if businesses do not know it exists or do not know how to take advantage of it. I would now like to talk about what we are doing in my riding of Compton—Stanstead to ensure that local businesses can access these contracts. As soon as we started discussing the buy Canadian policy, I invited the Minister of Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement to my region. He delivered a presentation to business people. Roughly 75 stakeholders attended the presentation, during which his staff also explained the Canadian procurement process and how businesses, like the ones in my riding, can access it. Many organizations, economic development stakeholders and businesses have come to understand the policy changes, the opportunities these may present to their businesses, as well as how they, in turn, can become suppliers to the Government of Canada. In my view, this is essential. It is not enough simply to announce policies in Ottawa. They need to be promoted on the ground. That is how businesses can take advantage of them. My team and I support businesses that wish to better understand federal procurement opportunities, identify relevant opportunities and learn how to participate in the bidding process. We serve as a bridge between the government’s needs and the expertise that exists in my riding, which the government is not always aware of. We have manufacturing companies, we have many agri-food producers, technology firms, construction contractors and environmental specialists. They may not all provide the same products and services, but they all have something to contribute. When we talk about buying Canadian, we are talking about recognizing the expertise of local businesses. I am thinking in particular of the La Station de Compton cheese factory, which recently won four awards at the 2026 Sélection Caseus competition, including two of the highest honours: Caseus gold for its Alfred le Fermier Grand Cru, which was named the best cheese in Quebec, and the Caseus bronze for its Raclette de Compton au poivre. I must say I have a soft spot for the second one. It holds a special place in my heart. I will go out of my way to eat grilled cheese sandwiches at Compton’s cheese factory. That being said, when the Prime Minister came to town, I presented him with some Alfred le Fermier Grand Cru cheese. I will have to ask him what he thought about it. As I said, two of the best cheeses in Quebec are made in my riding. That, too, is what buying Canadian is about. It is about showcasing outstanding products and the expertise of the local artisans who put us on the map. The motion also raises the matter of the service contract awarded by the Canada Revenue Agency and where veterans fit in when it comes to employment opportunities. Let me be very clear: We recognize veterans’ contributions and the importance of offering them meaningful career prospects after their service ends. The Canadian Corps of Commissionaires plays a very important role in helping us do that. It deserves recognition for its history and its contribution to employing veterans. We also need to consider how the contract was awarded. The CRA ran a competitive bidding process. Businesses were evaluated based on predetermined criteria. Technical merit counted for 60% of the score, price counted for 40%, and the contract was ultimately awarded to the bidder with the highest overall score. The successful supplier has significant operations in Canada and employs thousands of people across the country. According to information provided by the CRA, of the 60 employees covered by this contract, 33 are former security guards who have been rehired and 12 are veterans. This in no way diminishes the importance of supporting the Commissionaires and the veterans they employ, but it does serve as a reminder that we must also take into account the Canadian workers who continue to provide services. Since this motion relates to veterans, and with Remembrance Day approaching, I would like to take this opportunity to highlight the contribution that service men and women from my region have made to the defence of our country. The Eastern Townships have a rich military history. In East Clifton stands what is considered to be the oldest cenotaph in Quebec, and possibly in all of Canada. It was erected in 1920 in honour of the soldiers of the First World War. During the Second World War, the municipality of Bury had one of the highest enlistment rates per capita in Canada. Even today, our four reserve units in Sherbrooke, namely the Sherbrooke Hussars, the Fusiliers de Sherbrooke, the 35 Signal Regiment and the 52 Field Ambulance, are recognized for their significant contributions to Canadian Armed Forces missions. I would therefore like to encourage people in our region to take part in the upcoming Remembrance Day ceremonies. There will be nearly 20 of them in my riding of Compton—Stanstead alone, in addition to many others throughout the Eastern Townships. It is important to pay tribute to those who fought in defence of our country. Ultimately, the issues raised by this motion remind us of the same responsibility: to recognize the contributions of the people who build our country and defend it.