Translate Politics Parliament in plain language.

International Trade

During question period on international trade, the Bloc Québécois said the Prime Minister has made a series of concessions to the United States, including scrapping the digital services tax, dropping retaliatory tariffs, and cancelling a levy on American online broadcasters, without getting anything in return, and asked whether provinces like Quebec were being asked to concede as well. The Bloc also pointed to Bill C-5’s powers to suspend laws for projects like pipelines and to Bill C-30 on pesticides, saying these choices benefit American companies. The Liberals said the government is ready to enter trade negotiations, described a strong Canada as one that builds major projects with Canadian workers and materials, and said the Bloc opposes such projects. Some of the exchange was taken up by the two parties trading criticism over the Bloc’s opposition to a high-speed rail project.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

2 statements

Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“We are ready to negotiate trade deals. The Bloc Québécois is only asking these questions to distract people because Quebec mayors and newspapers criticized them yesterday for opposing high-speed rail.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 7 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

    See full analysis

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 14 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, obviously, the government is more than ready to enter into trade negotiations, but why are the Bloc Québécois members asking these questions? It is because they had a very bad day yesterday after their fierce opposition to the high-speed rail project. The mayors of Quebec’s big cities have denounced the Bloc’s position. Even Le Journal de Montréal has criticized their position, saying they have shot themselves in the foot. I can confirm that they have indeed shot themselves in the foot.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade F View analysis

Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“A strong Canada builds big projects with Canadian workers and materials to create opportunities for young people. The Bloc Québécois does not understand this and has never helped build it.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 0 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I will provide the definition of Canada strong. It is a Canada that knows how to achieve great things, that knows how to build projects using Quebec and Canadian labour, Canadian materials, Canadian steel and Canadian aluminum. It is a society that knows how to dream, that takes charge of its own future, and that creates opportunities for its young people. That is what it means to build Canada strong. Unfortunately, the Bloc Québécois knows nothing about this, has never made decisions on this, and is not involved in this.

View on ourcommons.ca Grade F View analysis

Discussion

No comments yet

See the full discussion

Comment rules

More from sitting 133

All 43 items ·
  1. Oral Questions Member for Côte-du-Sud—Rivière-du-Loup—Kataskomiq—Témiscouata 2 statements
  2. Oral Questions International Trade 4 statements
  3. Oral Questions Canadian Identity and Culture 2 statements
  4. Oral Questions The Economy 14 statements
  5. Oral Questions Taxation 2 statements
  6. Oral Questions Rail Transportation 12 statements
  7. Oral Questions The Economy 2 statements
  8. Oral Questions Indigenous Affairs 2 statements
  9. Oral Questions Natural Resources 2 statements
  10. Oral Questions Housing 2 statements
  11. Oral Questions National Defence 6 statements
  12. Oral Questions Canadian Identity and Culture 2 statements
  13. Oral Questions The Economy 2 statements
  14. Oral Questions Air Transportation 3 statements
  15. Oral Questions The Economy 8 statements
  16. Oral Questions The Economy 19 statements
  17. Government Orders Bail and Sentencing Reform Act 11 statements
  18. Private Members' Business Food and Drugs Act 9 statements
  19. Government Orders Government Orders 24 statements
  20. Government Orders Government Orders 16 statements
  21. Government Orders Government Orders 25 statements
  22. Adjournment Proceedings Adjournment Proceedings 4 statements