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Public Services and Procurement

During question period on public services and procurement, Conservative member Andrew Lawton asked why the government has spent $7.8 billion on contracts with American companies despite the Prime Minister’s announced buy Canadian policy, and asked for an explanation. Minister Patty Hajdu replied that the government is supporting Canadian suppliers, pointing to funding for new Via Rail trains built at the Alstom plants in Thunder Bay and La Pocatière. Lawton repeated that his question had not been addressed, saying government contracts increasingly go to American firms. Minister Joël Lightbound replied that the buy Canadian policy has been in place since December, with more than $22 billion in contracts in progress or awarded to encourage Canadian suppliers, and said the companies being criticized employ thousands of Canadians.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

4 statements

Andrew Lawton

Conservative
“The Prime Minister told Canadians to buy Canadian. But his government just spent 7.8 billion dollars with American companies. I want him to explain why he is not following his own policy.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we have even more proof that the Prime Minister is all talk and no results. Just over a year after he announced his own government’s buy Canadian policy, we now learn that the government has spent $7.8 billion enriching American corporations. A Prime Minister who says that we are “at war” with the United States is padding the bottom lines of American companies. He told Canadians to buy Canadian. Why is he not?

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Patty Hajdu

Liberal
“Our government does buy Canadian. Last month we funded Via Rail to buy new trains built by Canadian workers in Thunder Bay and La Pocatière. That will give my community ten years of work.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, just last month, I was honoured to stand with the Minister of Transport and the Prime Minister in Thunder Bay, Ontario, at the Alstom plant as we announced support for Via to purchase its new fleet of cars using Canadian talent in a Canadian plant. That will benefit workers in La Pocatière and in Thunder Bay. This is the announcement of a generation for my riding, with 10 years of solid work. Congratulations to the members of Unifor and Alstom for bringing it home.

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Andrew Lawton

Conservative
“The minister did not answer my question. The Prime Minister promised to buy Canadian, but more government contracts now go to American companies instead. I want him to answer why he broke that promise.”

  • Opposition question in Question Period

    Respect 69 of 100

    This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “What is up, his elbows or his stock portfolio?”.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I apologize, but I believe the minister got her talking points mixed up, because that had nothing to do with the question I asked. The Prime Minister looked at Canadians and said that he was going to lead by example and his government was going to buy Canadian. Instead, he has increased, in the time he has been Prime Minister, the number of government contracts going to American companies from one-fifth to one-third. Perhaps it is because 90% of his investments are wrapped up in American corporations. Here is a very easy question for the Prime Minister: What is up, his elbows or his stock portfolio?

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Joël Lightbound

Liberal
“Our buy Canadian policy has been in place since December. We have awarded or started more than $22 billion in contracts to support Canadian businesses and goods. The companies being criticized employ thousands of Canadians.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 100 of 100

    Of this answer, 100% addressed the question that was asked.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud that the buy Canadian policy has been in place since December for procurement in Canada. More than $22 billion in contracts are either in progress or have been awarded under the buy Canadian policy. This policy aims to encourage the use of Canadian suppliers, but also, and especially, Canadian content. According to the article so frequently quoted since this morning, many companies employ thousands of Canadians across the country.

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