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Major Projects Office

During Question Period, Conservatives asked repeatedly about the Major Projects Office, saying that some employees there are paid by private corporations, that the government will not name those companies, and that conflicts of interest are not independently reviewed. They asked which companies are paying these workers and how conflicts are checked. Liberal ministers responded by defending the office and listing projects it has helped advance, including the Churchill Falls hydro project, the Darlington nuclear work, the Roberts Bank Terminal 2 port project in British Columbia, and the Contrecoeur expansion at the Port of Montreal, and they invited members to support these projects. One exchange also touched on China’s removal of tariffs on lobster and crab and new fisheries funding.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

8 statements

Joanne Thompson

Liberal
“I have good news for the member. Today we announced that China's tariffs will be removed for two years.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I actually have some very good news for the member opposite. Today we were proud to announce the removal of China’s tariffs for two years— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

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Joanne Thompson

Liberal
“China is removing tariffs on lobster and crab for two years, and we are spending over 300 million dollars over five years to support fisheries. Instead of reading prepared notes, the member opposite should work with us on things that make sense.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take it from the top, if I could, because this is such important, good news for the province I share with the member opposite. There is a two-year removal of the Chinese tariffs on lobster and crab, which is so significant for Atlantic Canada. On top of that, there is over $300 million over five years for AFF funding. Instead of reading prepared notes, let us get together and do something that actually makes sense.

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Tim Hodgson

Liberal
“Stop spreading conspiracy theories. Look at what this office did at Churchill Falls instead. It is our largest clean energy project.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, rather than come up with conspiracy theories, why does the member not talk about what the MPO did at Churchill Falls? It is the largest renewable energy— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

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Tim Hodgson

Liberal
“The member should stop sharing conspiracy theories about the Major Projects Office. It helped make Churchill Falls happen, which brought 5,000 new jobs and new mines to her province. She should help the office instead.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, rather than come up with conspiracy theories about the MPO, the member might recognize that the MPO helped make Churchill Falls happen. It is the largest renewable energy project in the history of North America, with 5,000 new jobs in her province, new mines in her province. Instead of coming up with conspiracies, why does she not help the MPO get—

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Tim Hodgson

Liberal
“The Conservatives should stop pushing conspiracy theories about the Major Projects Office. This office helped create 18,000 jobs at the Darlington nuclear reactor, one of the most important clean energy projects in the world.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, just as with the last member, I would invite the member, rather than focusing on conspiracy theories about the MPO, to focus on the 18,000 jobs at the Darlington nuclear reactor. It is one of the most important renewable energy projects in the world, the first SMRs in the world, and the Conservatives are talking down the office that made that happen. Maybe they should get with the program.

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Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“The Major Projects Office is getting results. With its help, we announced a $6 billion port project in British Columbia that will create 17,000 jobs and help us sell Canadian goods to Asia.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we have talked about Atlantic Canada, we have talked about Quebec, and we have talked about Ontario. Now it is time to talk about British Columbia, where I was last Friday to announce, with the help of the MPO, it must be said, the listing of Roberts Bank Terminal 2. It is a megaproject for all of Canada, with $6 billion and 17,000 jobs for British Columbians and Canadians, to export our goods, our farm goods and the products of our ingeniosity over to Asia and create—

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Joël Lightbound

Liberal
“Conservatives say they want to help ordinary people, but they vote against them. The member voted against child benefits and dental care that help tens of thousands of people in his own riding. Another Conservative said we help businesses too much, but she cheered when we gave support to a business in her riding.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, what I do not understand about the Conservatives is the way they talk about helping ordinary people and then systematically vote against those people’s interests. That member specifically voted against 19,223 children who are receiving an average of $5,000 through the Canada child benefit, in addition to the 19,000 people in his riding who are benefiting from the Canadian dental care plan. The confusion and hypocrisy across the way do not stop there. Yesterday, the member for Bellechasse—Les Etchemins—Lévis accused us of helping businesses too much. However, when we were in her riding, visiting Prevost and helping businesses deal with the trade war, they were quite happy to be there on the sidelines and applaud the announcements we were making to support Canadian businesses.

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Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“I want the member to support our government. We are funding the Contrecoeur project, which will grow the Port of Montreal's container capacity by 50%. This will create jobs and help Quebec businesses sell their goods to the world.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Major Projects Office has selected Quebec winners as well. I implore the member to support this side of the House, because we revealed the investment and the start of construction on the Contrecoeur project, which will increase the Port of Montreal’s container capacity by 50%. What is that going to accomplish? It is going to create wealth, opportunities and supply chains for Quebec manufacturers, farmers and producers to reach the entire world. It is creating jobs in Quebec.

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