Juanita Nathan

In response to a question from Patrick Bonin

“Culture is important, which is why we put $770 million into it in the budget. The Bloc voted against that money. Big internet companies make money here, so they should pay to support our culture too. Our first plan did not work, so we are trying something new.”

“Mr. Speaker, I understand why this is important for everyday Canadians. This is an affordability question as well. The culture sector is important to Quebec, and we understand that. That is why in the 2025 budget we included $770 million for it. I do not understand why the Bloc Québécois would vote against that and now ask a question about why we are trying to put this bill to consumers. Just like how broadcasting is making money and paying it back, the giant Internet industry should be paying. It should not be taking this for granted. That is why we tried to do that. We realized it did not work, and we are trying something different.”

In response to a question from Burton Bailey

“We know that artists and cultural workers are important for sharing Canadian and Quebec stories here and around the world. Their work matters. The industry is changing, so we are taking a different approach and need more time to do it.”

“Mr. Speaker, the government understands that artists, creators, cultural workers and institutions are essential to ensuring that Canada and Quebec stories, perspectives and creativity continue to reach audiences not only at home but around the world as well. This is important because their work matters and should not be taken for granted. That is why we took that very first step that we needed to take. Because the world of this industry is very much transient and is transforming, we have now decided, because it is not going through, to take different measures, and we need time for that—”

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“Streaming companies that make money in Canada must help pay for Canadian shows and music. Our laws make sure online platforms support Canadian and French-language creators, and help people find their work. We are also investing 600 million dollars in our music, film, and television industries to protect Canadian jobs and culture.”

“Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Madawaska—Restigouche. I am very pleased to have the opportunity today to discuss the essential place of francophone culture in the digital environment, as well as the tools we, as a government, have to support the creators, artists, journalists, cultural workers and businesses that bring Canadian stories to life. Culture is at the heart of Canadian identity. It brings us together, helps us better understand our communities and contributes to the vitality of our democracy. Songs we sing together, programs that spark conversations and news stories that help us understand current events all contribute to our sense of belonging. In Quebec, as across Canada, the cultural sector plays a vital economic role. Behind every audiovisual production, every album, every performance venue and every newsroom are workers, businesses, skills and careers that contribute to the prosperity of our country. At the same time, the media and cultural production sectors are going through a period of profound transformation. Consumption habits have changed rapidly. Traditional revenues are under pressure, business models are evolving, and financing has become increasingly uncertain for many cultural activities. In this context, it is essential that we preserve the strength of our cultural ecosystem while adapting to today’s digital realities. For more than half a century, Canada’s broadcasting system has been guided by a fundamental principle: Those who benefit from access to the Canadian market should also contribute to its development. This principle has helped support Canadian creation, sustain our artists and ensure that our stories reach audiences across this country. However, the media landscape has changed significantly in recent years. Online streaming services now play a central role in how Canadians watch films and television series, discover music and access content. This is precisely why Parliament modernized the Broadcasting Act through the Online Streaming Act. The objective was not to preserve the system exactly as it existed in the past but to ensure that it remained relevant and effective in the digital age. The Online Streaming Act established that streaming services that benefit from access to the Canadian market should also contribute to the creation and promotion of Canadian content. All broadcasters, whether traditional or online, should make a meaningful contribution to Canada’s broadcasting ecosystem. Within this framework, the CRTC is responsible for implementing directions established by Parliament and defining the obligations that apply to various participants in the cultural system. These measures are particularly important for francophone creators. The act recognized the unique situation of French in Canada and North America, as well as the specific challenges associated with creating, distributing and ensuring the discoverability of French-language content. In a global digital environment where the volume of available content is innumerable, discoveries remain an ongoing challenge for francophone works. It is not enough for our artists to create exceptional content. Audiences must also be able to find it, discover it and engage with it. That is why the issue of discoverability occupies an increasingly important place in cultural policy discussions both in Canada and around the world. Alongside this regulatory work, our government recognizes the challenges facing the cultural sector and the importance of providing the stability it needs during this period of transition. It is in this context that this government announced a $600-million investment to support Canada’s audio and audiovisual sectors. Work is continuing on the implementation of this commitment, and we will share further details as it progresses. The government’s objective remains clear. We must support the creation of Canadian content to help ensure the future of our artists and cultural workers, and to maintain services that remain accessible and affordable to Canadians. We are also undertaking a broader examination of the institutions, programs and support mechanisms that contribute to the development of Canada’s audiovisual sector. We want to ensure that our policies continue to reflect the realities of today’s industry, enabling creators and cultural businesses to thrive in an ever-evolving environment. This important work must be guided by the communities our systems serve. Francophone creators must be able to tell their stories and reach their audiences in Quebec and across Canada. Indigenous creators must be able to share their perspectives and ensure indigenous languages are heard. Ultimately, the decisions we make today are not only about funding mechanisms or regulatory frameworks. They are about the jobs, businesses and talent that contribute to Canada’s economy. They are about the stories we choose to tell, the voices we want to hear and the cultural heritage we hope to pass on to future generations. Protecting our culture means protecting our ability to tell our own stories in our own languages, to ensure they continue to reach audiences here in Canada and around the world.”

In response to a question from Sébastien Lemire

“We cut federal red tape with this bill. Now the provinces need to work with us so projects only have to go through one review instead of two. Seven provinces have already agreed to this, and I want Quebec to join as well.”

“Madam Speaker, I agree that we, as the Canadian government, through Bill C-5, removed all the red tape with respect to the federal government. It is now the provincial government’s duty to work with the federal government and comply with that. As far as the one project, one review framework to reduce existing duplication between federal and provincial assessments, seven provinces have come on board with this agreement. I am not sure whether Quebec is one of the provinces. If it is not, then I am sure the government would keep working with it until it gets on board.”

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In response to a question from Dan Albas

“I understand the concern. The member can suggest this change when the committee studies the bill.”

“Madam Speaker, I certainly do understand, and I am sure that when the bill is at committee, the committee can recommend changes to the bill. This might be one of the recommendations the member may want to put forward at committee.”

“I want the House to pass this bill. It protects workers in federally regulated jobs like trucking and air travel. It hires more safety inspectors, stops trucking companies from misclassifying workers, protects airport union contracts, and helps workers get unpaid wages.”

“Madam Speaker, Canada is making headway in the world as it is, not passively waiting for the world we wish it to be. We are focused on what we can control. We are building a stronger, more independent and more sustainable economy. We are leveraging our strengths and moving quickly to open new markets, strengthen supply chains and accelerate projects across the country. We are also making sure that workers have the security and opportunities they need to succeed during these times. This success requires a modern labour framework that protects and supports Canadian workers and workplaces. This is particularly important in the federally regulated sectors. These are the sectors that underpin Canada’s economic growth, trade, supply chains and major projects. Bill C-39 features a suite of new measures to support the workers who will build them and help them thrive in the future. Canadian workers are at the heart of Canada’s economic strength, but the increased demand on critical infrastructure requires stronger worker protections. Bill C-39 is heavily informed by consultations with unions, employers and indigenous partners across Canada, and they all confirmed the need for increased workplace protections that keep up with our rapidly changing economy and workplaces. Unions and employers may not always see eye to eye, but worker protection was a subject upon which they could all agree. Bill C-39 features a slew of worker supports that have been proposed through both legislative amendments and non-legislative investments. I will take a moment to outline each of these measures, starting with the ones that address health and safety. Workplace safety is and will always be a top priority for the Government of Canada because there is nothing more important than returning home safely after a day’s work. We know workplace injuries, including psychological ones, are costly for workers and their families, and also for the employer. We are also aware that our core workplace safety precautions in federally regulated workplaces are not perfect and that there are still gaps in enforcement. That is why we sought input from both employee and employer groups to strengthen these protections. Their input was invaluable and helped shape our way forward. Bill C-39 is backed by targeted investments to hire new health and safety officers. That means more inspections, more prevention and more protective enforcement to ensure that workers return home safely from work, because we know safe and modern workplaces benefit employees and businesses alike. I would like to talk now about driver misclassification in the road transport sector. Under the so-called Driver Inc. model, some carriers push drivers to incorporate. These drivers are treated as independent businesses, even though they drive the carrier’s truck on the carrier’s schedule and are, in every way that matters, an employee. The problem is that these drivers can then lose access to important protections they would be entitled to as employees. These include minimum wage, paid leave, employment insurance, the Canada pension plan and health protections. Unfortunately, it is often the most vulnerable workers who are hit the hardest, including newcomers to Canada. The code already makes it clear that this is an illegal practice and it needs to stop. It hurts drivers and it puts honest employers that follow the rules at an unfair disadvantage. The Canadian Trucking Alliance, the national voice of the trucking industry, has been calling for stronger action for years. It has welcomed Bill C-39 as an opportunity to give the government better tools to recover the wages workers are owed. The bill builds on work already well under way. Prevention has always been at the core of the labour program’s approach. A dedicated team of labour program officers meet directly with employers and drivers to explain their responsibilities and rights under the code. They also work proactively with partners, including the provinces and territories, to crack down on driver misclassification. This is done through proactive and targeted inspections, outreach and education. In the road transportation sector, this has included inspection blitzes in the greater Toronto and Hamilton area and in Montreal. Since 2023, more than 1,800 inspections and outreach and awareness activities have been conducted in the sector. Drivers deserve fair treatment, and employers who follow the rules deserve a fair chance to compete. That is why Bill C-39 builds on previous measures with additional support and more inspectors to continue this important work. I would like to switch gears, from trucking to the airline industry. Our airports connect Canadian businesses and travellers to the world, but today, when an airport service contract is retendered, workers who continue doing the same job lose their union certification and their collective agreement. Bill C-39 changes that. This legislation will extend successor rights in cases of contract retendering in the air transportation industry at airports. These protections will apply to all Canadian airports. This means airport workers will keep both their union representation and their collective agreements when their contract changes from one contractor to another. This measure was strongly supported by unions during our consultations, and it was not opposed in principle by employers. That certainly means stability for workers and for the airport that depends on them. This will go a long way in helping to strengthen protections for workers and promoting worker stability and fairness. Protecting workers’ wages has always been a cornerstone of the Government of Canada’s labour framework. Our wage earner protection program already provides financial support to Canadian workers who have lost their jobs and are owed wages by their insolvent employers. Since its creation in 2008, it has paid almost $750 million in unpaid wages to more than 210,000 Canadians. Behind every payment is a worker who lost a job but did not get paid. Bill C-39 will strengthen the integrity and stewardship of this program. This will be accomplished by addressing gaps to ensure more predictable payments while preventing the misuse of insolvency mechanisms. This will help ensure that payments happen the way they should, when they should. Eligible workers deserve no less. I would like to talk about paid medical leave and the measures in Bill C-39 to address an issue that has posed challenges of late. Since December 2022, employees in the federally regulated private sector have been entitled to earn and take up to 10 days of medical leave with pay per year. However, there have been concerns about stacking of benefits with negotiated or employer-provided leave regimes that are equivalent or greater. We have addressed this issue in Bill C-39, more clearly explaining how the paid leave provisions work. The bill clarifies that employees who are entitled to more favourable paid sick leave benefits in their collective agreement are not also eligible to the code’s medical leave provisions on top of it. In this way, Bill C-39 will maintain access to up to 10 days of paid medical leave for all employees, while providing much needed clarity on an important yet sometimes misunderstood topic in federally regulated sectors. Canadians are counting on us to work together to support them and secure Canada’s long-term prosperity, and Bill C-39 does just that. The worker support items in Bill C-39 will help Canada build more, build efficiently and build stronger, so I encourage all members of the House of Commons to support this landmark legislation and help stabilize our labour landscape, because it takes all of us pulling in the same direction to build Canada strong.”

In response to a question from Gord Johns

“Our government is lowering costs by extending fuel tax relief and investing money so Canadians can benefit from the returns. I do not have an answer to the member's question right now.”

“Madam Speaker, as Canada continues to build a stronger, more resilient and more independent economy, the government is taking practical steps to reduce costs today while investing in long-term prosperity. We are extending the fuel tax relief on one of the measures, helping families, workers and businesses navigate the global economic uncertainty. The sovereign fund we have created will be invested where people can benefit from the interest on it and make money. With respect to the question my colleague is asking, I have no answer at this point.”

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In response to a question from Warren Steinley

“We should not compare Canada's diesel prices to global averages. Many other countries control fuel prices or help pay for them, so it is not a fair comparison.”

“Madam Speaker, the reason we are speaking about this over and over is that we hear questions about diesel over and over during QP. I wanted to caution my colleague across the aisle that international comparisons on average diesel prices should be interpreted with caution. Diesel prices in many countries are influenced by government subsidies, administrative pricing regimes or other forms of state interventions. As a result, global averages that combine both market-based and non-market prices are not a like-for-like benchmark for assessing Canadian diesel prices. A more meaningful comparison—”

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“High prices and gas costs are coming from foreign conflicts and American tariffs. Our government is helping families by lowering income taxes, paying for school lunches, and giving people grocery benefits. We also want to pass this bill to keep the federal tax on fuel paused until early 2027, and then cut it in half for two months.”

“Madam Speaker, it is an honour to rise and speak about this subject today, which is of crucial importance to all Canadians. We are all aware that recent changes on the global stage have made life more unpredictable, more complex and, for too many people, more costly. Our largest trading partner has imposed tariffs on our imports, significantly impacting Canadian workers and businesses from coast to coast to coast. Conservatives may not want to call these tariffs what they are, but on this side of the House, we understand the impacts they are having on Canadian families, businesses, exports and workers. Conflict and instability in the Middle East have led to an increase in fuel prices around the globe. Conservatives may want to blame Canada and Canadians for the challenges we face, but on this side of the House, we are positioning Canada to thrive within a rapidly changing world. Facing these circumstances, Canadians do not need slogans, and they do not need social media influences. They need relief, and relief is what our government has delivered. Through carefully considered measures, we are strengthening our country’s sovereignty and economic resilience while supporting Canadians through these challenges. Since day one in March 2025, we have worked to save Canadians hard-earned money. On July 1 of last year, 22 million Canadians, more than half the country, had their income taxes lowered when we cut the first income tax bracket from 15% to 14%. This represents an annual tax savings of $420 for individuals or up to $840 for two-income families. To help support Canada’s most vulnerable people, we introduced automatic federal benefits filings, starting with the 2026 tax year. This change will automatically give up to 5.5 million low-income Canadians the benefits they qualify for by the 2028 tax year. We also removed the goods and services tax on new homes costing up to $1 million for first-time homebuyers, and we lowered it on new homes priced between $1 million and $1.5 million. This move gives more Canadians, especially young families, the chance to live the Canadian dream of owning a home. Speaking of young families, they know the importance of good food during school days. We made permanent the national school food program, a program derided by Conservatives as “garbage”, to provide meals for up to 400,000 children across Canada. This program saves participating families with two school-age children approximately $800 annually on groceries. Food is essential, but it has grown more costly. To help more than 12 million Canadians manage their grocery budget, we introduced the new Canada groceries and essentials benefit, which provides a family of four with up to $1,890 this year and about $1,400 annually for the next four years. Single Canadians will have a benefit of up to $950 this year and about $700 for the next four years. Food is fuel for learning minds and working bodies, but groceries do not make their way into stores on their own. Canada is a vast nation, and moving people and products is a necessity that requires fuel of a different kind. We know that consumers are facing higher gas and diesel prices at the pump, and businesses have their profitability impacted by the increased cost of getting goods to market. I know that in my riding of Pickering—Brooklin, this is true. Although the factors that led to these high fuel prices are not within Canada’s control, Canadians expect a strong response. We are focused on what we can control. That is why we introduced Bill C-38, the Canadian fuel affordability act, which is currently being studied. Bill C-39 is being debated in the House and will be debated later on today as well. Bill C-38 would build on the temporary suspension of the federal fuel excise tax that we introduced earlier this year, bringing the tax on gasoline, aviation gasoline, diesel and aviation fuel to zero cents per litre. For Canadians filling up their cars, it means a tax cut of 10¢ per litre on gasoline, a savings of about five dollars on a typical 50-litre fill-up, and four cents per litre on diesel fuel. While this cut was originally set to expire last month, Bill C-38, if passed, would extend that suspension of the federal fuel excise tax until January 31, 2027, after the holiday season. Regular rates would then be reduced by 50% through March 31, 2027, inclusive. Higher energy prices are a concern not just here at home but in every part of the planet. We are fortunate to be rich in many natural resources and to be the fourth-largest exporter of crude oil in the world. This is why the Prime Minister has said, “Canada has what the world wants.” This summer, the executive director of the International Energy Agency said that Canada has a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to become a global energy exporting superpower. The leaders of our G7 peer nations are asking us to step up and supply the world with the sustainable, reliable energy they need to power their economies. This is an opportunity we are leaning into and seizing with intention. That is why we recently announced that Pacific link, an oil pipeline that will bring Albertan oil to ports in British Columbia, will be listed as a project of national interest under the Building Canada Act. Designating the Pacific link pipeline as a project of national interest means it will get built faster, reducing Canada’s dependency on U.S. markets as buyers for our oil by giving us a new ability to export to Asian customers. Once completed, the Pacific link will allow us to ship an additional one million barrels of oil each day across the Pacific. While we are prioritizing measures to help Canadians during this difficult time and working to create the right climate to grow the economy and foster investment, we have never wavered in our focus on fiscal responsibility. The International Monetary Fund forecasts that our country will be the second-fastest growing economy in the G7 groups of nations this year and in 2027. Canada’s sovereign debt continues to command the highest rating, a AAA credit rating, from Fitch, from Standard & Poor’s and from Moody’s, the three main debt rating agencies. As we know, this exemplary credit rating allows Canada to issue debt to investors on the best possible terms. As well, as noted in April’s spring economic update, Canada is on track to reduce its deficit in 2025-26 by $11 billion more than originally forecasted in the last federal budget. This gives us an advantage when it comes to investing in the supports and services that matter to Canadians. Canadians are strong and resourceful, and in times of adversity, they expect a strong, resourceful response from their government. The measures I have mentioned are just some of the actions we have taken to protect and promote Canadian interests while positioning the country for future growth and prosperity.”

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In response to a question from Linda Lapointe

“I want this bill to pass. It protects workers' rights, stops wage theft, speeds up workplace dispute settlements, and keeps the right to strike.”

“Mr. Speaker, union workers are at the heart of a strong economy. This bill is designed to strengthen good-faith bargaining and achieve better outcomes for everyone. It would crack down on wage theft and the misclassification of jobs. It would protect workers during business transactions and insolvencies. It would safeguard bargaining rights when contracts change hands. It would speed up grievance arbitration, in addition to always upholding the constitutionally protected right to strike. I just want to reiterate that the right to strike would always be protected under this bill.”

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In response to a question from Luc Thériault

“This bill already has rules to stop ministers from having too much power. We can also make the bill better when it goes to committee.”

“Mr. Speaker, I understand the concerns the opposition member has about this. That is why this bill has built-in guardrails to safeguard against giving ministers the authority that he is talking about. Of course, when the bill goes to committee, members will have an opportunity to weigh in and give their suggestions on how to make this bill better, as the bill is still open for suggestions. I would reiterate that there are guardrails in it to prevent that from happening.”

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In response to a question from Burton Bailey

“Our government is acting quickly to bring major projects and investments to Canada. Since last spring, we have signed over 20 economic and security deals and started 27 big projects. These will support over 337,000 jobs and bring in almost $200 billion.”

“Mr. Speaker, Canada’s new government is building Canada strong. From the time we took our seats in 2025, we have been acting with greater speed, certainty and predictability to bring projects and investments into Canada. Since last spring, Canada has signed over 20 new economic and security agreements and has advanced 27 nation-building initiatives that will support more than 337,000 jobs and attract nearly $200 billion in new investments.”

“I want the House to pass this bill. Trade with the United States is less certain now, so Canada must build up its own ports, rail, and trade routes. This bill cuts red tape, approves projects faster, and helps Canadian businesses sell goods to other countries.”

“Mr. Speaker, Bill C-39, the building Canada strong act, is a critical piece of legislation that would make Canada’s transportation system work better for Canadians and for our economy. It is about keeping Canada moving by strengthening trade corridors and ports, providing regulatory certainty, achieving red tape reduction and modernizing transportation security clearances. Canada’s prosperity has always depended on our ability to move goods across vast distances and deepen trade relationships with countries near and far. However, the world has changed. The global trading system is being reshaped. Supply chains are being reorganized. Businesses are looking for reliable markets and reliable partners, while competition for investment is intensifying. For decades, Canadians benefited from a stable and increasingly integrated trading relationship with the United States, one built on growing market access and shared understanding of the rules governing our trade. Today, that environment has fundamentally changed and been replaced with a new reality, one where tariffs are being treated as leverage and supply chains are vulnerabilities. The recent tensions with Canada’s largest trading partner have underscored the importance of building greater economic strength and resilience here at home, started by building Canada strong and united as one Canadian economy. Since last year, the government has been working to advance nation-building projects faster and more responsibly, diversifying our industries and trade relationships, and creating high-paying jobs for generations. Bill C-39 would unlock more of Canada’s economic potential by strengthening our economy at home and expanding opportunities for Canadian businesses abroad. To achieve this priority is to deliver generational investments in our trade and transportation infrastructure. The proposed measures in Bill C-39 would strengthen our transportation supply chain by modernizing our transportation policy and strengthening our trade corridors and ports to get products to market more efficiently and affordably. Importantly, the bill also proposes measures to modernize Canada’s marine governance structure. Given that 85% of Canada’s non-U.S. trade moves through our marine ports, without them there is no trade diversification. The bill would also provide certainty and stability and achieve red tape reduction to get major projects built faster to help Canada’s businesses save time and money, and make Canada an attractive place for investments. It would support trade digitalization. Together, the initiatives in Bill C-39 would reduce cost, improve administrative efficiency and improve the security of goods that move across our border by mitigating fraud. They would also strengthen our labour relations framework which would create more reliable supply chains and greater economic resilience. This bill is also part of a much broader economic plan. In the Speech from the Throne, the government set an overarching goal to build the strongest economy in the G7. The government is committed to removing barriers that hold back trade and investment, getting major projects built faster and strengthening Canada’s relationships with reliable trading partners all around the world. The government has already moved quickly to launch a new $5-billion trade diversification corridor fund to put investments behind the ambition into action to build our infrastructure, strengthen our supply chains, attract private capital and grow Canada’s economy. These are significant investments that would connect Canadian products to domestic and international markets and would support our government’s goal of doubling Canada’s non-U.S. exports over the next decade. Bill C-39 is the next piece of that work. However, infrastructure investment is only part of the solution. Measures in Bill C-39 would also address some of the structural issues in the transportation supply chain. The bill would modernize the regulations, policy and governance structures that determine how our transportation supply chain operates and international trade is processed. By strengthening transportation networks, the government would build more reliable supply chains and give investors and trading partners greater certainty that Canada is a stable place to do business and invest. When there is a bottleneck at a port, a shortage of rail capacity, a shipment held up by administrative or paperwork issues or a disruption anywhere along the way, the costs are ultimately borne by Canadian businesses and workers. Delays are costly for our businesses and for Canada’s reputation as a reliable trading partner. When we strengthen Canada’s supply chains, we are not simply moving goods more efficiently within Canada. We are helping a business in Quebec, Vancouver or Toronto reach a customer halfway around the world. That is how Bill C-39 would strengthen trade, investment, jobs and economic growth. This bill is about much more than modernizing Canada’s supply chain. It is economic legislation. It is about strengthening our economy and creating the conditions for Canadian businesses to compete and grow. It is about improving the conditions for investment and growth across Canada and reducing costs by making government work better. One of the most practical things a government can do to strengthen its economy is to reduce unnecessary regulatory burden. Businesses should be focused on investing, building and creating jobs, not navigating duplicative processes and unclear timelines. That is why Bill C-39 takes practical steps that would streamline federal review and permitting processes and reduce duplication across departments. We are proposing to allow federal departments and agencies to share international trade information for imports and exports more easily and with less duplication so they can reduce information filing requirements for businesses, saving them time and money. As I mentioned, this bill supports trade digitalization and would provide opportunities to modernize regulations. Many Canadian exporters still rely on paper-based systems, which slow movements and increase costs and the time needed to get goods to global markets. The Commonwealth estimates that trading digitalization could boost Canada’s trade volumes by approximately $100 billion. We would also create a new advisory group on national trade corridors to find problem areas that cause delays, suggest ways to improve the system, improve efficiency and help different players make more coordinated decisions. This bill would modernize Canada’s national transportation policy to give greater recognition to supply chain efficiency. More than 525 billion dollars’ worth of goods and services move between our provinces and territories every year. When we look beyond our borders, we see that Canada’s transportation corridors support approximately $1.55 trillion in international merchandise trade. These transactions depend on reliable railways, ports and other infrastructure. Transportation performance and economic performance are connected, but we also need to ensure that the transportation system remains secure and resilient. Today’s transportation system faces more complex and connected threats than in the past. This requires a modern, more responsive approach that can respond to evolving risks while remaining predictable for industry. Updating the Canada Transportation Act to modernize the approach to transportation security clearances would create a broader, more effective framework. These proposed changes would help partners work together, make better use of information and help us better manage risks related to people who hold trusted roles within the transportation systems. I want to pause and underline the commitment of the Government of Canada to uphold indigenous rights and collaborate with indigenous partners during the implementation phase of this bill. We undertook engagement. We heard from indigenous people, the transportation industry and Canadians to better understand how we can build more efficient, resilient and reliable supply chains while supporting economic growth and trade. Those conversations helped inform the measures before us today—”