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Aerospace Industry

During question period, the aerospace industry came up in an exchange about federal spending. Andrew Lawton of the Conservatives said the government had declined to cut federal fuel taxes, which he said would have saved Canadians 25 cents a litre, while instead spending $200 million on a space launch site; he asked the Prime Minister to help everyday Canadians rather than, in his words, his friends. Minister David McGuinty replied that building Canada’s own space launch capability is expected to bring billions of dollars in investment, create well-paying jobs, strengthen Canadian sovereignty, and reduce reliance on the United States, and he said the Conservatives want to cut funding.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

2 statements

Andrew Lawton

Conservative

Linked statement

“The Liberals refused to cut gas taxes to save Canadians 25 cents a litre, but they are spending 200 million dollars on a launch pad. I want the Prime Minister to help regular Canadians instead of his friends.”

  • Opposition question in Question Period

    Respect 85 of 100

    This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “the most hot air from a transport minister”.

    See full analysis
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we also have a new record: the most hot air from a transport minister. The Liberals rejected Conservative calls to axe all federal taxes on fuel and save Canadians 25¢ a litre at the pumps. Let us look at what the Liberals do have money for: $200 million for a gravel pit, or, sorry, a launch pad, when the only thing the Liberals are sending into the stratosphere is the national debt. When will the Prime Minister let real Canadians get ahead instead of just Liberal cronies?

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David McGuinty

Liberal
“We are investing in Canada's ability to launch rockets into space. This will bring billions of dollars in investments, create good jobs, and make us less dependent on the United States. The Conservatives just want to cut funding.”

  • A repeated line

    “Establishing Canadian sovereign space launch capabilities will drive billions in investments.”

    Said 6 times by 2 members since April 24.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, establishing Canadian sovereign space launch capabilities is going to drive billions of dollars in investments. It is going to create good-paying jobs. It is going to increase Canada’s sovereignty. It is going to reduce our economy’s reliance on the United States. It is going to support a commercial space launch and re-entry industry that could be worth up to $40 billion. This is what we are investing in. What I hear on the other side is what I heard from Harper, slash and burn.

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