“We care deeply about the tariffs issue. Our government has been actively helping vulnerable industries since the last election, and we will keep supporting workers and small businesses.”

“Mr. Speaker, as I indicated in my opening comments on the opposition motion, I actually do appreciate the debate that is happening today with regard to such a very important issue. All government members are very much concerned about the tariff issue. I would not want those who might be following the debate to be under the impression that the government has not been taking actions to date. Since the last election, a year ago, we have had a very aggressive and proactive Prime Minister and government looking at ways in which we can support those vulnerable industries. What happened on April 6 is not a good thing. We all agree on that. I think this aspect would be unanimously supported. We will continue to support our workers and our small businesses. It is more so—”

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“The United States has put illegal tariffs on our goods. We are not waiting around. We are helping our steel, aluminum, copper, and lumber industries with funding and new trade deals. We are also buying Canadian materials for government projects and making it easier to trade between provinces.”

“Mr. Speaker, I will be sharing my time with the member for Mississauga—Lakeshore. Today’s motion concerns measures to support the manufacturing sector in the face of unjustified and illegal tariffs. The United States, the world’s largest economy, is fundamentally reshaping its trade relations with the rest of the world. This rapid transformation is causing significant disruption and major upheaval for Canada, as well as for many other countries, and for our industries, our workers and our communities. Faced with this reality, Canada has demonstrated that it is serious, committed, and ready to take action. We have approached negotiations with the United States with rigour and in good faith. However, let us be clear. While we wait for our American partners to be ready to engage in serious and constructive discussions, we are not sitting idly by. On the contrary, we are taking action. We are focusing on what we can control and on building Canada strong. We have already announced a comprehensive tariff response plan to help Canadian businesses adapt, compete and grow in a new global environment. This includes support to help businesses retool and reinvest, measures to increase domestic demand for Canadian products, and actions to strengthen Canada’s long-term economic resilience by building a stronger domestic market and diversifying trade abroad. We are taking a truly comprehensive approach to strengthen the Canadian economy and make it more resilient. Of course, our government took immediate action to support and strengthen the strategic industries that are at the heart of our prosperity and that are particularly affected by these tariffs. These include steel, aluminum, copper and softwood lumber, critical sectors that help build our country, drive our exports and create thousands of high-quality jobs. Behind these industries are skilled workers, families and entire communities that depend on a sector to live and prosper. That is why we have put in place concrete measures to support workers and businesses affected by the unjustified tariffs, while continuing our efforts to get the tariffs lifted. We recently created a new $1‑billion Business Development Bank of Canada program to provide support and funding for businesses in our steel, aluminum and copper industries to help them address immediate pressures and transform their operations. We are also allocating an additional $500 million to Canada’s regional development agencies, as part of the regional tariff response initiative, to ensure that this support reaches every corner of our country. This will considerably strengthen our existing tariff response, which includes maintaining countertariffs on U.S. steel and aluminum, reducing freight rates for Canadian steel, adjusting tariff quotas to fight dumping, implementing a buy Canadian procurement policy so that new national infrastructure is built with Canadian steel and aluminum, and making diversification tools available to businesses through the $5-billion strategic response fund. I would like to give a specific example of how this support is felt on the ground. Through the regional tariff response initiative, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency administers $80 million to support small and medium-sized businesses. This funding enables businesses to modernize their operations, strengthen their supply chains and explore new markets. In March, in my riding of Madawaska—Restigouche, I announced the very first investment made through this tariff response initiative in Atlantic Canada. Max Steel, founded in 1987 and located in Clair, in the Madawaska region, is hailed as a regional leader in the design, fabrication, welding, and laser cutting of steel structures. I had the pleasure to announce, on behalf of the Government of Canada, a $750,000 contribution to support this local business. This investment will allow Max Steel to acquire specialized equipment such as a CNC structural steel beam production line and welding robots. This major project will strengthen the value chain for my region’s steel industry while integrating modern technologies that improve efficiency and encourage innovation. As Max Steel’s chief executive officer said when the announcement was made, this support from the Government of Canada comes at a strategic time and will help the company accelerate its modernization, improve its productivity, and strengthen its competitiveness in the face of current business challenges, while also creating and maintaining skilled jobs in New Brunswick, including in the Madawaska region. This initiative is the perfect example of what we want to accomplish: giving our businesses, including in rural areas, the tools they need to succeed in the current context of instability. Building Canada strong also means building regions strong, and this means supporting our local businesses. I want to emphasize that point. Our rural regions are not on the margins; they are an essential pillar of our country and of our economy. As a member of Parliament, I am always pleased to announce investments that support local businesses and support good-quality jobs in my region. In addition to our efforts to support businesses, we are also actively working to strengthen Canada’s economy by diversifying and strengthening our trade partnerships around the world. That is why our government is implementing the most ambitious trade diversification strategy in a generation. Canada has everything the world needs: abundant natural resources, a skilled workforce, and recognized expertise across a range of leading-edge sectors. We must capitalize on these strengths. We are therefore entering into mutually beneficial trade agreements with reliable partners across the globe. In just 11 months, Canada has concluded 20 new economic and security agreements across four continents, and the results are already visible. In 2025, Canadian exports of goods and services to markets other than the United States increased by $33 billion over the previous year. This is just the beginning, because we will continue working to open new markets in order to expand opportunities for our businesses and our workers. I want to give a concrete example of the benefits of our efforts to diversify our economy. In February, our government led a successful trade mission to Mexico, and we will soon be hosting a Mexican economic mission to Canada. These exchanges are not just symbolic. They produce tangible results. Recently, for example, Canada and Mexico agreed on new provisions allowing Canadian potatoes to be exported to the Mexican market for both processing and consumption. The potato industry plays a major role in the Canadian economy and in the economy of my riding of Madawaska—Restigouche. Potatoes are the fifth most important crop in Canada, contributing approximately $2.1 billion in farm cash receipts in 2024. Our agreement with Mexico will give this industry access to a market of over 130 million consumers. From discussions I have had with farmers in Grand Falls, who are very excited about the idea of developing new markets, I know that this news was very well received back home. For our farmers and processors, this agreement represents a concrete opportunity to export their products to Mexico. In addition to our efforts to provide immediate assistance to the businesses that need it most and to diversify our markets abroad, we have been working hard since day one to strengthen our domestic market. In June, we passed Bill C‑5, the One Canadian Economy Act, which removed federal barriers to domestic trade and labour mobility. Since then, the provinces and territories have also worked toward eliminating trade barriers, and we look forward to the provinces’ and territories’ next steps. The buy Canadian policy makes it easier for small and medium-sized businesses to sell their products to the federal government and strengthens our supply chains. We value leading by example and being our own best customer to stimulate domestic demand. We are also making major investments in building our country. That includes historic investments in housing and infrastructure that are part of an overall strategy to increase demand for Canadian products and an important tool to strengthen our economy and support our businesses. In my riding, for example, softwood lumber is a mainstay of our economy. History shows that Canada was literally built by our forests and forestry workers. Today, we want to continue building our country with our softwood lumber, our steel and our aluminum. The willingness to buy Canadian is central to our strategy of becoming our own best customer and boosting domestic demand. In closing, I would like to remind members that the challenges ahead are real, but that our government is determined to take action. Canada has a history of resilience, innovation and determination. By investing in our industries, workers and regions, we are not just responding to present-day challenges; we are building a future where our economy is stronger, more diversified and more independent, a future where Canada continues to stand out on the world stage.”

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“We need a full plan to help businesses hurt by tariffs. We are giving them loans and grants right now. Over the long term, we are investing in infrastructure, buying Canadian goods, and helping small businesses find new markets around the world.”

“Mr. Speaker, I think that is why it is important to have a comprehensive strategy with short-term actions, including the assistance measures that were recently announced in the form of loans and various types of subsidies to help the businesses most affected by the tariffs. There are also medium- and long-term measures. Strengthening the Canadian market means investments in our infrastructure and the buy Canadian policy that we are currently implementing. It also means diversifying our markets internationally. We are also providing support through various programs to SMEs that want to explore new markets. That includes a range of measures that will have an impact in the short term to help the businesses most affected by the tariffs, but also to help strengthen these businesses in the long term and, ultimately, to strengthen the Canadian economy.”

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“Over the past year, we supported big national projects, like Nova Scotia's offshore wind project, and helped businesses hurt by tariffs. The Conservatives had many chances to vote for measures that help businesses and workers, but they voted against them almost every time.”

“Mr. Speaker, I would like to remind my colleague that, over the past year, we have announced a series of measures to support the development of major projects of national interest in Canada. I am thinking in particular of the offshore wind project off the coast of Nova Scotia and a whole range of other major projects. We have also announced a suite of targeted measures to support our businesses and various sectors affected by the tariffs. I would like to point out that, on several occasions, our colleagues in the official opposition have had the opportunity to vote in favour of measures to support our businesses and workers, but that, on almost every occasion, they have opposed them. For our part, we are truly focused on strengthening the Canadian economy and delivering on our promises through major projects of national interest, while standing by our businesses and workers, something that does not seem to be the case for the opposition.”

“A boat dock company in my riding used government tariff aid to help export its products to the United States. I want the member to explain how these tariff programs help small and medium businesses.”

“Mr. Speaker, Les Pays-d’en-Haut has about 1,000 lakes. My riding is home to a great business called Multinautic that manufactures aluminum docks. It was able to take advantage of a tariff response grant. The company’s employees are very happy because they export a large part of their production to the United States. I would like my colleague to explain how tariff response strategies work for small and medium-sized businesses.”

“Our $500 million in business support gives real help to small and medium-sized companies in our regions. It helps them modernize, handle new challenges, and protect good local jobs.”

“Mr. Speaker, in my speech, I mentioned the importance of concrete examples. When we announce an additional $500 million through the tariff response initiative, for example, what does that mean for small and medium-sized businesses in our regions? It means support for businesses in Les Pays-d’en-Haut. It also means support for businesses like Max Steel in Madawaska—Restigouche to modernize, adapt, retool and deal with the current challenges. In and of itself, I believe that this support is about more than just numbers to be debated in the House. It is about concrete assistance that makes a difference for our businesses, helps create and maintain good jobs in our regions and rural areas, and opens up new opportunities for these businesses to continue to prosper.”

“American tariffs are hurting our workers and factories. The opposition just wants to complain about this, but the government is taking action. We are helping workers by training 100,000 new people in the skilled trades and funding major building projects.”

“Mr. Speaker, these are challenging times. The global market and trade landscape has shifted rapidly, over the last year especially. This includes, of course, the imposition of tariffs. I want to speak today about the opposition day motion, item (c) specifically, which states, “express concern that this new trade environment will have irreparable effects on our manufacturing sector and the jobs that depend on it”. My colleagues have spoken at length about the economic impact of the tremendous work that the government is doing to try to transform the economy, protect our sovereignty and bolster economic growth, but today I want to speak specifically about labour. Tariffs have had a broad impact on Canada’s labour market. It has been rightly stated that they have hit the steel, automotive and softwood lumber sectors the hardest. They are creating stress for workers, employers and communities right across the country. My city of Mississauga and the surrounding GTA, especially Steeltown, Hamilton, have been rocked by tariffs, but the people of Steeltown are fighters. They are strong, and the Canadian government is fighting alongside them. In the midst of this, the member from Joliette—Manawan wants us to step back and condemn the imposition of American tariffs. He wants us to express our concern about the effects they will have on our jobs and our manufacturing sector. I get it. I understand, but I can assure the member opposite that we are well beyond polite expressions of outrage. Instead, we are meeting today’s challenges with disciplined focus on building a stronger, more resilient economy. That is enough with the belly aching. It is time to take action, and we are. We are doing so co-operatively with stakeholders, industry and labour. That is how we will mitigate the impact of the tariffs. A year ago, the Prime Minister was elected with a vision to build Canada strong together. Since that time, we have been relentlessly focused on protecting our sovereignty and our capacity to grow. We are not backing down from tariffs. We are standing up for workers to make sure they have the support they need to succeed. As we build Canadian and as we buy Canadian, we are giving every worker the tools they need to succeed in a changing economy. That is what investing in people means. It is about building the foundation for long-term economic strength. The Prime Minister has said numerous times that as we cope with economic uncertainty, our most powerful recourse and our most powerful tool is to control what is within our power to control. In other words, we should take the bull by the horns. How do we do this? How do we mitigate the impact of these uncertain times to build a stronger, more inclusive economy? We invest in Canada. We invest in infrastructure, the defence industrial strategy and major projects, and we invest in Canadians, in people. First are the skilled trades and apprenticeships. The government knows how vital tradespeople are. They build our homes, keep our cities running and take care of infrastructure we rely on. A strong skilled trades workforce builds Canada. It builds us strong. Canada needs more skilled trades to build the nation-building projects, the affordable homes, the new defence industries and stronger infrastructure. To meet this, team Canada Strong will recruit, train and hire up to 100,000 new Red Seal trade workers in the next five years. It is an ambitious agenda, one that will generate good-paying jobs now and into the future. Step one of that plan is recruitment. Team Canada strong will provide young people with a clear path to learn and enter the trades, and to link up with employers. Young people will start in registered apprenticeships, earning income, gaining experience and contributing immediately to those major projects. The second phase is training. We are boosting modernizing the apprenticeship training to expedite the Red Seal certification with $331 million in funding over five years, starting in 2026-27. We will also expand union training and innovation programs to enable union-run training centres to upgrade facilities and invest in modern equipment. The final stage is hiring. Once certified in a Red Seal trade, tradespersons can receive up to $5,000 as a completion bonus. Income supports will also be available for those who are between the periods of training and work. Training for the trades can take a long time, and sometimes income stability is a concern during the completion of those years, so we are going to make sure that apprentices get the financial support they need, starting now. We recently announced $75 million over three years, starting in 2026-27, to double the union training and innovation program, which supports union-based apprenticeship training. This is part of our current investment of nearly $1 billion a year to support the Red Seal program through tax credits and EI benefits and the project funding of unions, other tradespeople and stakeholders. Next, I want to talk about why the Government of Canada is creating workforce alliances to help Canadian workers weather the tariff storm. Our government is committed to protecting and supporting workers in this period of uncertainty by creating one labour market. Existing workforce development approaches are fragmented and not well coordinated. There is a need for greater cohesion. As part of a broader tariff package announced by the Prime Minister on September 5, and echoed in our budget of 2025, we are investing in modern measures to protect, build and transform Canada’s workforce in these strategic industries. New investments include workforce alliances to tackle urgent labour market challenges in six priority areas: housing and construction, transportation and supply chains, advanced manufacturing, the care economy, mining and minerals, and energy and electricity. Our workforce alliances are unified by one core mission, which is to create lasting job opportunities for Canada’s workers where they are needed most. Canada’s workforce is the strongest when employers, unions and training partners work together. Together, they will keep Canada’s workforce strategy grounded in the real needs of the country. All this investment is essential. Canadian industry is the backbone of our country’s economy. Every sector matters. That starts with steel, Canadian aluminum and Canadian lumber. Supporting these industries is about reinforcing our made-in-Canada industrial capacity, protecting good jobs and strengthening our communities. Big things are getting built. What is going to strengthen our economy for generations to come is having them built. We set up the Major Projects Office. Fifteen projects have been referred, which will support 60,000 jobs across the country, from the Crawford nickel mine in Timmins, the Darlington nuclear plant in Ontario and the terminal container project in Montreal to the Grays Bay road and port project in Nunavut and the LNG project in B.C. That is just to name a few. The work we are doing is focused on one thing: building a strong economy that supports great-paying jobs. This is the backbone of the build Canada strong agenda. Canada’s labour market is indeed experiencing unprecedented pressures from tariffs, skill shortages, supply chain disruptions and broader economic shifts. Our focus is on building the strongest economy in the G7, and we are holding our own despite the headwinds. Our economy is growing twice as fast as Germany’s and three times as fast as Italy’s. It does not feel that way sometimes in communities like Steeltown, but we are going to get there. We are going to make sure that no one is left behind. Without skilled workers, we cannot meet the moment. Canada’s independence and prosperity depend on the workers who build them. That is why, in March of this year, we announced $228 million for Ontario under the workforce tariff response. It is to support the people who are affected in the hardest-hit sectors to help adjust, especially to the new opportunities. It has never been more important for a government to invest in people. It is all about investing. It is all about people. It is all about Canadians. Workforce development is the cornerstone of economic strength. To meet the challenge of this moment, we are equipping workers with greater tools to strengthen Canada. To this end, in 2025, we introduced—”

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“Our ministers just announced $1.5 billion to support businesses and workers. The steelworkers union says this helps companies dealing with the U.S. trade war and protects good jobs.”

“Mr. Speaker, just yesterday, the Minister of Industry and the Minister of AI announced $1.5 billion. This is the quote from workers at the United Steelworkers: “Today’s announcement is a positive step for companies facing serious pressure from the ongoing U.S. trade war. It matters to workers because these businesses support good jobs across Canada’s industrial supply chain.” Canada is stepping up to support them now.”

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“Our government is helping people and businesses right now. We are funding big building projects, job training, defence, and people hurt by tariffs. Our economy is growing faster than most other rich countries, which creates jobs and keeps Canada strong.”

“Mr. Speaker, I disagree on a couple of issues, primarily the lack of government supports and interventions. I believe they are going to be immediate and sustainable supports. In fact, in the year that has passed, there have been the initiatives of the government through major projects, the defence industrial strategy, the workmen and apprenticeship programs and the supports for those who are affected by the tariffs. These are the supports the government is providing as a bridge to get through it. The greatest ability is economic growth, and we are outpacing most of the G7 to create those jobs and protect Canada’s sovereignty. That is going to play well and will support Canada’s strength.”

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“We are spending a lot of money on defence, including $1.5 billion in Mirabel. I want to know how spending money on defence helps deal with tariffs.”

“Mr. Speaker, I have the chance to sit on the defence committee with my hon. colleague. He is our chair, and he is a wonderful chair. We have been doing historic investments in defence. One of them is the $1.5 billion we announced for L3Harris in Mirabel. I would like to hear the member’s comments about how defence investment helps counterbalance tariffs.”