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MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT

François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal Saint-Maurice—Champlain 343 statements translated

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Champagne, as finance minister, is pushing affordability measures: extending the fuel tax suspension through Bill C-38, the Canada groceries and essentials benefit for twelve million Canadians, housing funding and a budget set for November 5. He answers questions by reciting programs and figures and often turning on the questioner, telling one that “the member seems confused” and daring the Conservative leader to “take action” instead of talk. His answers close on refrains like “every day is a good day to fight for Canadians.”Written by AI from their statements. Updated .

Average grade
C+
69 / 100 over 298 statements
Signal 63 / 100
Relevance 55 / 100
Respect 100 / 100
Clarity 84 / 100
Loses points more than most for Mocking a person instead of answering their argument.2 times as often as most members.What the tags mean ×2.0 A promise with no date, no measure and no one responsible.1.8 times as often as most members.What the tags mean ×1.8 Staying near the subject without addressing the matter at hand: what was asked, or what the bill, motion or speech is about.1.6 times as often as most members.What the tags mean ×1.6 Loses points less than most for A story that illustrates instead of making a point.Less often than most members.What the tags mean Wording that hides who did something, or who will.Less often than most members.What the tags mean Greetings and pleasantries.Less often than most members.What the tags mean Averaged over the 298 of 343 statements graded so far.

Statements 343

Government Orders ·

Business of Supply

In response to a question from Carlos Leitão

“Canada has a top credit rating, just like Germany. This gives us the money to make big investments in housing, infrastructure, and innovation.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, it is refreshing to hear a colleague who was once a minister of finance talk to us about issues and real things. I think that the people of Laval must be very proud to hear my colleague share his experience. It is a great privilege to serve with a colleague who was once the finance minister of a great province like Quebec. I salute him and thank him for his economic statement. He is right, and it is refreshing to hear comments and questions like these because, essentially, what is being said is that two G7 countries, Canada and Germany, have an AAA credit rating. What does that give us? It gives us the fiscal capacity to make generational investments, similar to those that our colleagues in Germany made. We are doing it in infrastructure, obviously in housing, productivity and innovation, as well as effort. I will have a lot more to say in response to the next question.

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In response to a question from Michael Cooper

“I want to connect the member with astronauts. They can explain how a rocket launch site in Canada helps our national security.”

  • Reply to a debate question

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Official Hansard

Again, Mr. Chair, in the spirit of collaboration, I am extending an olive branch to my colleague to put him in touch with astronauts so that he can learn how a launch site in Canada would be in the best interest of Canada’s national security.

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In response to a question from Michael Cooper

“We should not insult Canadian workers and businesses. I am offering to connect the member with our astronauts to talk about our space industry.”

  • Reply to a debate question

    Signal 18 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, I do not know why, when we do these exercises, we need to talk down industry, why we need to talk down Canadians, why we need to talk down what people are doing. Let us talk about the industry. This is an olive branch. I am happy to put him in touch with astronauts—

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In response to a question from Michael Cooper

“I am here to answer questions. We should be celebrating Canada's space program, including sending a Canadian around the moon, investing in our space industry, and building a launch site in Canada.”

  • Reply to a debate question

    Relevance 47 of 100

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Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, I am here to answer the questions from the member. What I find sad tonight is that there would be a way to celebrate the great success of our astronauts, the fact that we have launched a Canadian around the moon, the fact that we are investing in our space industry, the fact that we will have a launch site in Canada, and it is going to be part of the resilience of—

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In response to a question from Michael Cooper

“I support Nova Scotia, our astronauts, and our space industry. The launch site in Canso is important for our national security.”

  • Reply to a debate question

    Relevance 37 of 100

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  • Reply to a debate question

    Signal 32 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, the member went after the space industry. He went after a launch site. He is now going after Nova Scotia. I do not know where this is going to end, but one thing I can tell members is that I am going to stand with the people of Nova Scotia. I am going to stand with our astronauts. I am going to stand with the space industry. I will remind him that I am happy to put him in touch with astronauts. He would learn that Canso is a particular site from which to launch and something we need in terms of national security.

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In response to a question from Michael Cooper

“Canada is in a great spot to launch things into space. The member should talk to American officials or astronauts to learn about this.”

  • Reply to a debate question

    Relevance 49 of 100

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Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, I do not know if there is a space parliamentary committee but the hon. member would gain knowledge by talking to our American colleagues. He would learn that having a location in Canada is very strategic in order to launch into a particular orbit, and I can put him in touch with a few astronauts if he wants.

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In response to a question from Michael Cooper

“I support our space industry and astronauts. Canada needs to be able to launch into orbit from our own site in Nova Scotia.”

  • Reply to a debate question

    Relevance 32 of 100

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Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, he can talk down the industry. I will stand up for astronauts and the industry at every step of the way. If he was talking to our southern neighbour, he would understand that it is important for Canada to be able to launch from a Canadian site in order to get into a certain orbit, and we can do that in Canso, Nova Scotia.

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In response to a question from Michael Cooper

“The member should support our space industry instead of attacking it. We should be proud that a Canadian is going around the moon.”

  • Reply to a debate question

    Relevance 0 of 100

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  • Reply to a debate question

    Signal 30 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, my colleague should, instead of going after the space industry, celebrate what we have achieved recently. We had our first Canadian to go around the moon. We went back to the moon as humanity. I think he should be proud. Instead of talking down a whole industry and talking down the space industry in the country, he should—

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In response to a question from Michael Cooper

“The member should be careful with what he is accusing us of. Investing in the space industry is a good idea.”

  • Reply to a debate question

    Signal 28 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, I know that my colleague is an experienced member of the chamber. He is making allegations. It is not the first time that he has made allegations like this, but I think he should be careful in his line of questioning. At the same time, he should realize that the space industry is a great place to invest.

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In response to a question from Michael Cooper

“The space industry is important in Canada. I used to be in charge of the space agency, and I am glad to answer questions about it.”

  • Reply to a debate question

    Relevance 48 of 100

    None of this reply addressed the specific point raised or the topic under debate.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, my colleague is asking questions about space. I think space is an important industry in Canada. I hope he is going to have many more questions. As a former minister responsible for the space agency, I will have a lot to say about that.

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In response to a question from Raquel Dancho

“Our government has always supported auto workers and manufacturers in Ontario. We are investing money to help the industry grow and adapt to the future.”

  • Reply to a debate question

    Relevance 45 of 100

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  • Reply to a debate question

    Signal 40 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, I think everyone watching, particularly those in Oshawa and in southwestern Ontario, know that this minister and this government have been standing shoulder to shoulder with them. We can talk to the unions, the local union members, the industry partners and the manufacturers. We have stood with industry and workers every step of the way. When I started in my previous job as minister of industry, we made investments to make sure that the sector would grow and adapt to the new reality. This is a fast-evolving market, but the investments we are making today need to take into account the future as well, and I think the member will recognize—

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In response to a question from Raquel Dancho

“Our investment in the Volkswagen plant in St. Thomas is a big win for Canada. Projects sometimes face delays everywhere, but this will help our economy for a long time.”

  • Reply to a debate question

    Relevance 44 of 100

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Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, let me talk about Volkswagen for a minute. I can see the smile coming back on the member’s face, because Volkswagen will be one of the largest industrial sites in North America. She should be celebrating. I am sure she likes St. Thomas and southwestern Ontario as well. This is going to be an investment that is generational. If she had been with us when we announced that in St. Thomas, she would have seen the community members and the mayor. Everyone was there celebrating the fact that, for the first time in the history of Canada, we were able to attract a European manufacturer. When I started that journey, people thought it would be impossible. We made it possible. Canadians understand that obviously a number of projects get delayed. It is not unique to Canada. This is what we are seeing in all the other G7 countries, but smart countries invest not only for now, but for the future. These investments will provide benefits to Canadians in the long term.

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In response to a question from Raquel Dancho

“We have been smart and careful with our deals to attract green investments. We only pay companies after they build and sell their products.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Chair, it is a pleasure. I know the member knows the sector because she has New Flyer in her riding, which I am still looking forward to visiting because it is a great company, and it is also looking at electric buses. My colleague will be happy to learn we were very disciplined. The Chair will remember this because I know he took note at the time. We were talking about production subsidies. This was on the back of the Inflation Reduction Act. In order to attract these investments, we were very smart, because we said we would only pay out when a number of units had been built and sold. Members should be reassured that we have been good fiscal stewards. We have attracted investment. We have been very disciplined in how we structured these deals. I would say to my colleague that she should keep in mind that the electric stack is the—

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In response to a question from Raquel Dancho

“Our government brought Volkswagen's largest electric vehicle battery factory outside Europe to Canada. This is good for Canadian workers and the auto industry.”

  • Reply to a debate question

    Signal 40 of 100

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    Relevance 100 of 100

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Official Hansard

Madam Chair, I am so happy to have that line of questioning. I almost hope that time would stop for a minute, because honestly, I could go on and on. Let us talk about Volkswagen, one of the largest automakers when we landed the gigafactory. It is the largest gigafactory outside of Europe of Volkswagen. In which country did they decide to put it? It was in Canada. It is amazing that, for the first time in Canada’s history, we have attracted a European automaker to Canada. I see in her smile that the member knows in her heart that we have done good things for the workers and that we have done good things for the industry. She is a good member. She is experienced. She will appreciate that—

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In response to a question from Raquel Dancho

“We still need to invest in electric cars. Big changes in technology take time, and new kinds of cars have always taken years to become successful.”

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Official Hansard

Madam Chair, I would think it is exactly the opposite. I think electrification is still our north star. Let me just remind my colleague that when Tesla started business, it took 17 years to be profitable. When the Model T Ford was introduced, it was not a success. When we have been doing the same thing for 100 years with internal combustion engines and we switch technology after a century, it is quite normal that we have adjustment of technology, of consumer habits and of markets, and the position that has been taken by our neighbour to the south has affected this. We have seen delays in most of the projects in the G7, but I still believe in investing in the electric stack and in making sure that we have the ecosystem to build a car—

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In response to a question from Steeve Lavoie

“The world economy is very uncertain right now, so we must focus on what we can control. We need to end trade barriers between provinces, invest in our businesses, and keep business taxes low. Canada still has the second-highest economic growth in the G7.”

  • A repeated line

    “We have the second-fastest growth in the G7.”

    Said 12 times by 5 members since April 24.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Madam Chair, I can imagine how pleased the people of Beauport—Limoilou are to hear their MP speak this evening. The Habs are not playing this evening, so I presume that a lot of people are watching their MP tonight. He is doing a great job. It is clear that, as the former president of the Chambre de commerce et d’industrie du Québec, he understands the issues. He is right. That is one thing that sometimes bothers me about my opposition colleagues. They forget that we are trying to navigate very uncertain economic times. The IMF publishes an uncertainty index. Right now, the level of uncertainty is almost as high as it was after the Second World War. We are living in uncertain times. I think that, in times like these, we need to focus on what we can control, as the Prime Minister so rightly said. What can we control? We can build the country; eliminate tariff barriers between the provinces; invest in our sovereignty, competitiveness and innovation; build safe and resilient communities across the country; and take fiscal measures that ensure that new investments made in Canada today benefit from the lowest tax rate in the G7. Canada is still a leader. We have the second-highest growth in the G7. Canada’s economic growth is twice that of our counterparts in Europe, twice that of Great Britain—

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In response to a question from Steeve Lavoie

“I agree with the member that affordable housing is a major issue. Our government is spending 56 billion dollars over five years to build more homes, and housing costs in major cities are starting to ease.”

  • Reply to a debate question

    Relevance 43 of 100

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  • Reply to a debate question

    Signal 40 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Madam Chair, in front of all the people of Quebec City who are watching us, I want to congratulate the member. I think that the people of Quebec City should be proud to have an MP like him. He has a strong grasp of the issues, not only in the greater Quebec City area and in the national capital, but also as the former president of the Quebec City chamber of commerce and industry. He is obviously someone with extensive knowledge of important issues and economic matters. He spoke to a very important issue, the housing issue. This is true in Quebec City, true across Quebec, and true across the country. We know that housing is one of the pillars of affordability. I know my colleague understands that. That is why we have made generational investments. That is why Build Canada Homes is going to play an important role, because we do need to build more housing, but what we really need to do is build more affordable housing. We know that housing is the first pillar of affordability for families. People need to be able to find safe, affordable housing that is within their financial means and that is suited to their family’s needs. I would like my colleague to know that I think he has a very good grasp of the reality, namely that housing has been the priority. The 2025 budget includes generational investments. If we look at the total investments the government is making in housing for the five-year period from 2026-27 to 2030–31, we see that a total of $56 billion will be invested in various measures to help build more housing. We are already seeing results. Pressure has started to ease in major cities on house prices, as well as on the cost of housing. I would like to congratulate my colleague on the speech he gave today in the House. It was a speech that demonstrated just how well he understands the issues that matter to the people in his constituency, to the people of Quebec City, but also to Canadians as a whole.

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In response to a question from Jean-Denis Garon

“I want to say that everyone in the House appreciates you.”
Official Hansard

Madam Chair, I would add to my colleague’s statement by saying that you are deeply appreciated by everyone in the House.

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In response to a question from Jean-Denis Garon

“We have spent billions of dollars to support workers and industries hurt by American tariffs. This includes Quebec's lumber and aluminum industries. My colleague should give us credit for this help.”

  • Reply to a debate question

    Relevance 46 of 100

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Official Hansard

Madam Chair, my colleague will be pleased to learn that we have invested several billion dollars to support workers during these challenging times. My colleague knows this very well, as he is from Quebec. We have seen many industries affected by the unfair tariffs imposed by our American neighbours. The government’s response was to help our workers and our industries, particularly Quebec’s lumber and aluminum industries. I think that my colleague should acknowledge what we have done to help workers.

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In response to a question from Jean-Denis Garon

“The Ethics Commissioner is independent from the government. He has all the resources he needs to do his job.”
Official Hansard

Madam Chair, as members are well aware, the Ethics Commissioner is independent from the government. He is an officer of Parliament who does the important job of advising my colleagues here and fulfilling that role. The Ethics Commissioner has the resources he needs to fulfill his important role in our democracy.

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