“We want our military to have the right gear, but defence spending must help Canadian workers and veterans. A Canadian group that employs veterans just lost a $12-million government contract to a foreign company. Will the government add strict rules to this defence bill to protect Canadian jobs, human rights, and oversight?”

“Madam Speaker, I have a ton of respect for my colleague, and New Democrats want our military to have the right equipment and in a timely fashion, but Bill C-40 must ensure that public dollars support Canadian workers and veterans. Canadians were horrified yesterday to learn that the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires lost a nearly $12-million CRA security contract to a foreign-owned company, Allied Universal, for roughly over $80,000, less than 1% of the bid. Its subsidiary reportedly holds contracts with ICE, the agency carrying out Trump’s mass deportations. Canadians want to know how awarding this contract to a foreign-owned corporation with those ties, instead of to a Canadian-owned institution supporting veterans, squares with the Liberals’ Canadian promises. Will the Liberals, seeking broader powers through Bill C-40, support binding safeguards on Canadian ownership and supporting veterans’ employment, labour, human rights and parliamentary oversight?”