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Public Services and Procurement

During question period on public services and procurement, Conservatives said that despite the government’s buy-Canadian promises, federal purchases from American companies have risen sharply — by some accounts nearly eight billion dollars, a fifty percent increase — and pointed to a major energy project using Chinese steel, arguing Canadian tax dollars should go to Canadian workers and businesses during a trade war. Liberal ministers replied that the buy-Canadian policy applies to contracts over five million dollars, that the criticized contracts protect over a thousand jobs and hundreds of Canadian suppliers, and that foreign-owned companies investing and employing people in Canada also benefit the economy. One minister also told the Conservatives to stop holding up the government’s high-speed rail plans between Quebec City and Toronto and between Edmonton and Calgary.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

6 statements

Eric Duncan

Conservative
“The Prime Minister promised to buy Canadian goods. Instead, the government spent nearly eight billion dollars on American goods, which is a fifty percent increase. I want the Prime Minister to explain why he sent Canadian tax dollars to the United States during a trade war.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister made a flashy announcement about promising to buy and build Canadian, yet we have learned this was all talk and no results. It was just a big political stunt. The Toronto Star confirms that since he made that promise, government purchases from American companies have actually increased by 50%, to nearly $8 billion. The Liberals are completely out of touch, and Canadians are rightfully shocked by this. Why is the Prime Minister choosing to send billions of Canadian tax dollars to the United States in the middle of an unjust trade war?

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Joël Lightbound

Liberal
“Our policy requires the government to buy Canadian goods for projects over $5 million. We chose to support Canadian workers and businesses. The contract the member is criticizing protects 1,700 jobs and 600 suppliers in London.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I am very proud of the buy Canadian policy that we announced in December. It now applies to procurements above $5 million. When we look at the numbers the member is referring to, we have made a choice to encourage investment in Canada and to prioritize Canadian content. This means contracts like the one to General Dynamics in London, with 1,700 employees in London, workers in London, and 600 suppliers. That is the kind of contract the member says our government should not do, one that is supporting Canadian industry and Canadian workers here at home and incentivizing Canadian content.

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Eric Duncan

Conservative

Linked statement

“The Liberals say they buy Canadian, but they do not. They are using Chinese steel for a major energy project instead of hiring Canadian steelworkers, and they gave eight billion dollars in contracts to American companies. I want the government to stop sending Canadian jobs and money to other countries.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we always have to dig deeper to get the truth when it comes to the Liberals’ big announcements and promises. The Liberals claim they are buying Canadian, but that is not the case in two multi-billion-dollar examples. The reannounced LNG phase two project will be using Chinese steel instead of supporting laid-off Canadian steelworkers, and shockingly, the Liberals are handing out billions in federal contracts and work to American companies. So much for buy Canadian. The Prime Minister pretends to stand up to President Trump while giving out $8 billion to the United States in contracts. The question is simple. When will the Liberals stop sending Canadian jobs and money to Beijing and Washington?

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Stephen Fuhr

Liberal
“Foreign companies that invest in Canada are good for our economy. They employ tens of thousands of Canadians and do important work here. We can support Canadian companies and foreign-owned companies at the same time. We will keep supporting them as long as they keep investing in Canada.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, again, I will raise with the opposition that foreign direct investment is a very important part of our economy. It employs tens of thousands of people. These companies design, engineer, retain IP and have headquarters. All this matters. It matters as much as Canadian companies. We can do two things at a time. We can support both. Companies like L3Harris, Safran and Airbus are big companies in Canada. We will continue to support them as long as they continue to invest here at home.

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Shelby Kramp-Neuman

Conservative
“The Prime Minister gave 50 percent more government contracts to American companies instead of Canadian ones. This sends Canadian jobs to the United States. I want the government to spend Canadian tax dollars on Canadian businesses instead.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister has told Canadians time and time again how during a generational trade war, the Liberals plan on strengthening the Canadian economy. However, the data suggests otherwise. According to the Toronto Star, the Prime Minister has increased Canadian contracts to the U.S. by over 50%. Canadian industry needs support from the Prime Minister, not inconsistency and more political grandstanding. Our Conservative plan would save Canadian jobs, not send them down south. When will the government prioritize the Canadian economy and spend Canadian dollars on Canadian goods?

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Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“Our government buys goods and services in ways that support Canadian jobs and materials. The Conservatives should stop blocking our high-speed rail projects between Quebec City and Toronto, and between Edmonton and Calgary.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, my colleagues have given a number of examples of how we are supporting Canadian jobs, Canadian materials and Canadians throughout our procurement process. If the Conservatives want to support perhaps the most quintessential of Canadian investments, they could get out of the way of Alto high-speed rail going from Quebec City to Toronto and now also studying very closely the possibility of high-speed rail between Edmonton and Calgary. Will the Conservatives stand up for— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

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