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The Economy

Question period focused on the economy and jobs, with several exchanges about Quebec. Conservatives said the province has lost 91,000 jobs this year, that young people are struggling to find work and housing, and that the government is spending too much and piling up debt; one member also cited a land lease costing the government far more than its annual rent and asked the Prime Minister to stop wasteful spending. Liberals pointed to investments they said are creating jobs, including $6 billion for training young people in the building trades, a new Airbus order of 150 aircraft in Mirabel, funding for Kruger in Trois-Rivières, and the start of the Matawinie graphite mine in Quebec, which they described as the largest in North America and a step toward energy sovereignty.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

6 statements

Eric Lefebvre

Conservative
“The government is wasting money by leasing land for 20 million dollars that is only worth 13,500 dollars a year. Meanwhile, young people cannot find jobs or homes. I want the Prime Minister to apologize and stop this wasteful spending.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, here is proof of how ridiculous the Liberals are. A company is leasing a piece of land for $13,500 a year and subletting it to the government for $20 million. That is Liberal management. Right now, it is harder for our young people to find a job than it has been for 50 years. They are struggling to find jobs, secure housing and put food on the table. They can no longer dream of owning a home or starting a family. Will the Prime Minister apologize for what he said about our children and stop spending on our children’s credit card?

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Joël Lightbound

Liberal
“Our government supports young people by spending $6 billion to train them for building jobs. We are also putting $2 billion into a large new graphite mine in Quebec. These major projects create hundreds of jobs for the future.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, a government that supports its young people with $6 billion for job training in the building trades that are going to be in high demand is a government that believes in its young people, that believes in the future and that walks the talk when it comes to major projects. Last week, the Prime Minister was in Saint-Michel-des-Saints to announce Nouveau Monde Graphite. That is $2 billion that is being injected into the Quebec economy. This is the biggest graphite mine in the G7. We are talking about hundreds of jobs. This is the type of major project that we need in Quebec and across the country for our young people.

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Bernard Généreux

Conservative
“Quebec has lost 91,000 jobs this year, and the government is spending too much money. Young people will have to pay for this debt. I want the government to stop spending so much.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I challenge the Liberal Prime Minister to look a young Quebecker in the eye and tell them that the economy is doing well. How can he justify the 91,000 jobs lost so far this year in Quebec, including 43,000 in April alone? The Liberal Prime Minister is racking up endless credit card debt, and our young people will be getting a bill that they will never be able to pay. It is unbelievable. When will the Liberal government stop making costly budgets and give the next generation hope and a chance?

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Mélanie Joly

Liberal

Linked statement

“Our investments are creating jobs. Airbus in Mirabel got a record order for 150 planes, and our funding for Kruger in Trois-Rivières will add 350 jobs.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we know how to give the next generation a chance and an opportunity: by making investments that create jobs. We can celebrate the new order for 150 new commercial aircraft from Airbus in Mirabel. This is the largest order in the history of commercial aviation in Canada. That is good news for people in the Lower Laurentians. There is more good news. I was also with the Quebec government when we announced new funding for Kruger in Trois-Rivières, which represents 350 new jobs. We recognize the company’s impact in the region.

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Tatiana Auguste

Liberal
“Work has started on a new graphite mine in Quebec. It will be the largest one in North America. I want the minister to explain how this mine helps our economy and supply chain.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, last week, the Prime Minister officially broke ground on Nouveau Monde Graphite’s Matawinie mine in Saint-Michel-des-Saints, in the Lanaudière region of Quebec, just six months after the project was submitted to the Major Projects Office. Once completed, this mine will be the largest graphite mine in North America and the G7. Can the Minister of Public Works and Procurement and Quebec Lieutenant inform the House as to how this project will strengthen our critical minerals supply chain and support our efforts to build a stronger, more independent and more resilient Canadian economy?

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Joël Lightbound

Liberal
“A new graphite mine is opening in Quebec. It will add $2 billion to our economy, create hundreds of jobs, and help Canada and our allies supply our own energy.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for Terrebonne and say that it is a pleasure to thank her in the House. The launch of the Matawinie mine in Saint-Michel-des-Saints is a significant step toward our energy sovereignty. In addition to becoming the largest graphite mine in the G7 and increasing our production eightfold, it will meet Canadian demand and strengthen the resilience of our allies with whom we have signed more than 56 agreements on critical minerals over the past year. I am proud of this project. It will inject $2 billion into our economy and create hundreds of jobs. Projects like Nouveau Monde Graphite are what it means to be masters in our own house.

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