Pauline Rochefort

In response to a question from Luc Berthold

“Mining and forestry companies in northern Ontario are investing and expanding. This creates good-paying jobs for our region.”

“Madam Speaker, this week is a good week for northern Ontario. Well-paid jobs are important. In the north, there are more than 900 companies operating in the mining supply and services sector. Premier Mining Products, a company in my riding, just announced that it is using the regional tariff response fund to modernize and expand its operations. Electra Battery Materials in Cobalt recently made significant investments. Furthermore, we welcomed the action plan to transform the forestry sector that was announced this week. We need to focus on what we can build together—”

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  “We need to focus on what we can control.”

  Said 3 times by 3 members since May 26.

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In response to a question from Steven Bonk

“The International Monetary Fund says Canada manages its money better than any other G7 country. I want people in the member's riding to read our economic update to see how well our economy is doing.”

“Mr. Speaker, I understand the question fully. I would like to point out to my colleague that the International Monetary Fund is a very important organization. Practically 90% of countries across the world belong to the fund. It plays an important role in comparing economies across the world. What it states, with respect to Canada, is very important. Basically, in April, it stated that Canada, among the G7, is the most fiscally responsible country. It takes a very important position. It speaks strongly about Canada. There are so many other indicators that we could point to, and that is why I encourage all the citizens from my colleague’s riding to read the spring economic update and to see and take good note of the many positive economic indicators.”

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In response to a question from Martin Champoux

“I agree with my colleague. Local media and journalists, including CBC/Radio-Canada and Le Voyageur, are very important to my community. I support helping them.”

“Mr. Speaker, I share my colleague’s concern. It is very important to have local media. In my riding, CBC/Radio-Canada plays a very important role. The support given to local journalists is also important. This program plays an important role in our community with media outlets, such as Le Voyageur. I agree with my colleague’s comment. He can count on my support in that regard.”

“The government's programs are helping thousands of people in my riding. They help pay for groceries, dental care, school meals, and new homes. Federal investments are also building needed local infrastructure and strengthening our national defence.”

“Mr. Speaker, I also wanted to point out that I was surprised to see the numbers. In my riding, approximately 28,000 residents will begin benefiting from the new groceries and essentials benefit in July. There are more than 14,000 residents in Nipissing—Timiskaming who qualify for dental care support, more than 12,000 elementary school students benefit from healthy meal programs, and over 10,000 families are receiving the Canada child benefit. Then there is the very strong support in Nipissing—Timiskaming for the recently announced 13% HST relief on new homes. This measure will help make home ownership more attainable for young people and families seeking to enter the housing market. At the same time, the federal government and the Province of Ontario have announced an $8.8-billion cost-shared infrastructure program over 10 years to support municipalities. This funding will help lower development costs for contractors and home builders while ensuring continued investment in roads, water systems and other housing-enabling infrastructure. These are precisely the kinds of measures that municipalities, builders and organizations, such as the Northern Ontario Home Builders’ Association, have been calling for. I believe I am coming to the end of my speech. I could give several more examples, but I would like to talk about 22 Wing in North Bay and the Northern Ontario Road to Defence. Residents are also seeing that new investments are strengthening Canada’s ability to maintain its sovereignty, such as the over-the-horizon radar, which is very important for the town of North Bay. Taken together, these measures demonstrate how Canada is supporting the residents of Nipissing—Timiskaming and showing that our country is all in for its residents. That matters because the federal government has important responsibilities to protect national security and public safety, to provide support through programs such as the Canada pension plan and old age security, and to provide support to indigenous communities to promote economic stability—”

“I support this budget bill. It creates a national fund that lets everyday Canadians invest in big building projects to grow our economy. The government is also spending money in my riding to protect mining jobs, build battery materials, and add affordable homes.”

“Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with my colleague from La Prairie—Atateken. I rise today to speak to the spring economic statement and to confirm that I will be voting in support of Bill C-30, an act to implement certain provisions of the spring economic update that was tabled in the House of Commons on April 28. There are many important elements within both the bill and the statement, but today I would like to focus on two central themes. First is the proposed Canada Strong fund and what it represents for the people of Nipissing—Timiskaming in providing an opportunity to be all in for Canada. Secondly, I would like to speak to the many ways that Canada is supporting the residents of Nipissing—Timiskaming, demonstrating that Canada is also all in for its citizens. I am glad that today in the House, there are members from my riding. On that note, I spent the last two weeks in my riding meeting with residents and attending community events and local functions. What I sensed in general was a growing feeling that this is a moment for Canadians to come together. I believe it is much like being part of a team, and I am sure fans of the Montreal Canadiens understand the analogy well, especially today. When the stakes are high, it is not the time to sit back on the bench. It is time to ask ourselves, how can we contribute to the success of the team? The same is true for Canada today. We may have different views on strategy, but once the game has started, our success depends on our ability to work together toward a common goal. In many ways, the times we are living in now remind me of the period following the Second World War. I was not alive then, but according to history books, Canada was facing the enormous task of rebuilding and strengthening the country. At that time, Canadians were able to directly participate in building the nation through Canada savings bonds. As part of the spring economic statement, the Prime Minister announced the Canada Strong fund, the country’s first national sovereign wealth fund. This proposed fund would allow individual Canadians to co-invest alongside institutional partners in large-scale, nation-building infrastructure projects. While we have discussed it here today, the final design of the fund has not yet been announced, as it will be shaped through consultations that will begin shortly. However, even at this early stage, the spirit behind the initiative reminds me of the era of Canada savings bonds, established in 1945 under former prime minister William Lyon Mackenzie King. For generations, Canada savings bonds provided Canadians with a trusted and accessible way to support the growth and transformation of the economy, while building wealth for themselves and their families. They were promoted not merely as financial instruments but as tools of nation building, fostering a culture of shared economic purpose during a period when millions of Canadians were emerging from uncertainty and insecurity. One constituent in my riding recently shared with me how much pride his father had. His father worked for a small township in Timiskaming, and he earned a modest income. His son spoke of how his father was proud when he purchased his first Canada savings bond because for him, it meant that he was contributing to Canada, to its growth, to the country he loved and to something that was larger than himself. I can actually relate to that personally because when I started to work, I purchased my own Canada savings bonds. I was in my 20s. I am somewhat embarrassed to say that my motivation was not about savings at that age, but it was about contributing to Canada. It was about supporting my country and feeling connected to something bigger than myself. Although the program ended almost a decade ago, for almost 70 years it meant Canadians had the opportunity to contribute directly to our country’s success. Because of my own experience, and what I continue to hear from residents across Nipissing—Timiskaming, I strongly support both the concept of and the rationale behind the proposed Canada Strong fund. A strong economy is not built by government and industry alone. It is built when citizens feel connected to the opportunities ahead and confident they have a role to play in shaping the future. The Canada Strong fund is about building Canada together. From energy to infrastructure to mining, the fund will invest across key sectors while delivering market rate returns for Canadians who choose to participate. I particularly appreciate the Prime Minister’s emphasis on making the fund accessible to all Canadians, regardless of their economic situation. In my view, that is important because it strengthens Canadians’ connection to their country and to the values that define us. In many ways, the Canada Strong fund reflects the same spirit that was once behind the Canada savings bonds. As Prime Minister Mackenzie King said, our duty is to give all of our citizens a greater measure of security. Today, Canada continues to pursue that same goal: to provide Canadians with greater security and greater certainty at a time that is marked by economic and geopolitical uncertainty, as many in the House have mentioned. I am proud to live in a country that has the backs of its citizens in practical and meaningful ways. Canada is supporting families, workers, seniors, businesses and communities, including the residents of my riding, Nipissing—Timiskaming. While time permits only a few examples, these measures demonstrate how federal investments are making a tangible difference in the lives of the people in my riding. Last week, I was pleased to announce funding through the regional tariff response initiative to support five prominent mining sector companies in my riding as they modernize and expand their operations in the face of unfair and unjust tariffs. These investments will protect jobs and create better-paying jobs throughout our riding. Through the strategic response fund, we also saw approval for Electra Battery Materials Corporation’s $100-million project to produce battery-grade cobalt sulphate in Timiskaming. For our country, domestic cobalt sulphate production will reduce the reliance on imports and strengthen key sectors such as electric vehicles, defence manufacturing, semiconductors and medical technologies. For Nipissing—Timiskaming, that represents 60 direct jobs and, during the construction, 100 skilled trade workers who will be working on the construction site. Last week, I was pleased to confirm an investment through the Canada-Ontario community housing initiative to support the construction of 60 affordable homes in North Bay. Affordable housing remains one of the most—”

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  A repeated line

  “As part of the spring economic update.”

  Said 4 times by 4 members since May 25.

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