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International Trade

Question period focused on United States tariffs on Canadian goods and Canada’s retaliatory countertariffs. Conservative members said the American tariffs, including a 50% tariff, are already hurting businesses named in their ridings, and argued that Canada’s own countertariffs raise input costs and consumer prices, wiping out profits and costing jobs; they asked the government to remove or reduce the countertariffs and to say what the total cost to Canadians will be. Government ministers, including Dominic LeBlanc, Mélanie Joly, and Steven MacKinnon, said the American tariffs are illegal and unjustified, that the countertariffs are needed to protect workers and businesses and as leverage in trade negotiations, and pointed to support available to affected businesses; they also said the Prime Minister walked away from a proposed deal this summer that would have been bad for Canada, and accused the opposition of suggesting Canada give up. One Liberal member asked, and the Finance Minister answered, a brief question about global investors coming to Canada, which the minister linked to Canada’s economic strengths.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

20 statements

Michael Barrett

Conservative
“American tariffs are already hurting local businesses like Northern Cables. Now Canadian countertariffs will make things even more expensive for Canadian families. How much will our tariffs cost families, and what will the government do to bring those costs down?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Northern Cables in Brockville sells about half its production in the United States, and it employs skilled Canadian workers. Trump’s unjustified 50% tariffs have already cost the company new U.S. work and put future Canadian investment at risk. If Canadian countertariffs are going to drive up costs for Canadian families, they would like to know by how much. Our question for the government is simple: How much are these countertariffs going to cost Canadian families, and what are the Liberals going to do to bring down costs for Canadians to make up for it?

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Dominic LeBlanc

Liberal
“We tried hard to get a fair trade deal with the United States this summer. The Prime Minister walked away because the deal offered was bad for our country, our industries, and our workers. The member should support us for standing up for Canadian workers.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, our government spent many weeks this summer pursuing in good faith an agreement with the United States that would have strengthened the Canadian economy and ensured Canadian sovereignty on issues as important as cultural industries and our ability to sign free trade agreements with reliable partners. At the end of the day, the Prime Minister concluded that the agreement was not possible; it was not on the table. Canada did what Canadians expected us to do: stand up for our sovereignty, stand up for our industries and stand up for our workers. I am surprised the hon. member is not supporting our government’s effort to support Canadian workers.

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Michael Barrett

Conservative
“The government's new trade taxes are hurting our economy. Over 100 people in my riding lost their jobs because a plant closed. I want the Liberals to adopt our Conservative plan to lower costs for families.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, what Canadians expect the government to do is two things at the same time: first and foremost, to always stand up for Canada, and second, to make sure that it is also saving money for Canadians. The countertariffs are already creating all kinds of knock-on effects in the Canadian economy. Canadians are losing jobs, including in my riding, such as at Invista, which has already closed its operation, putting more than 100 people out of work. What we want to know is which part of the Conservative plan that we have proposed to help bring down costs for Canadian families are the Liberals willing to adopt today.

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Dominic LeBlanc

Liberal
“The United States put illegal tariffs on Canada that break our trade deal. We must put our own tariffs on them to protect Canadian workers and businesses. We will also give support to the workers and companies harmed by these trade rules.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, perhaps what our colleague fails to realize is that countertariffs are also essential to protect Canadian workers and Canadian businesses that are facing, from the United States, tariffs that are unjustified, illegal and not in compliance with CUSMA. Our colleague pretends what? Is it that we should not have taken measures to support Canadian industries and Canadian workers? Countertariffs are part of the measures that our government is implementing, and we are also going to support businesses and workers to get through this circumstance, as any responsible government should.

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Scot Davidson

Conservative
“High American tariffs are costing Canadian aluminum workers their jobs. The government added its own tariffs, which raised costs, but it is letting American companies avoid paying them. Why is the government hurting Canadian workers and businesses instead of protecting them?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Spectra Aluminum in Bradford is facing layoffs and job losses as it deals with 100% stacking American tariffs. The Liberal government has responded by bringing in a countertariff that has raised costs for Canadians, but instead of using that as leverage to stand up for the 80,000 workers in Canadian downstream aluminum manufacturing, the Liberals are letting American firms dodge the tariff, by granting generous remissions. Why is the Liberal government undercutting the Canadian businesses and workers it is supposed to be protecting?

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Mélanie Joly

Liberal
“We are protecting aluminum jobs across the country during this trade war. Anyone hurt by the tariffs should visit Canada.ca to get help keeping their workers and businesses going.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we believe in the aluminum sector. We believe in the workers. That is why, over the course of the past few days, the colleague and I had the chance to work on specific businesses in his riding that needed support. We will continue to do that, because we need to protect jobs in his riding. We need to make sure that we protect jobs all across this country. That is why, at this point, anyone who is affected by the tariffs should please go on Canada.ca. We have support to keep their employees and operations going. We will build Canada strong while fighting this trade war.

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Scot Davidson

Conservative
“The government's 50 percent tax on imported aluminum hurts Canadian businesses. It raises the cost of homes, cars, and appliances, and it costs Canadian workers their jobs. I want the Prime Minister to tell Canadians what these taxes will cost them.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, they suggest more websites. This is out of touch. This is not building Canada strong. It is weakening our industries. The Liberals’ 50% countertariff on aluminum has increased the cost of houses, renovation, cars, appliances and more, while Canadians pay the price. Workers at companies like Spectra are still facing layoffs, still losing orders and still watching American firms get a backdoor pass into the Canadian market. When will the Prime Minister rise and tell Canadians what the countertariffs are going to cost them?

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Mélanie Joly

Liberal
“We need to work together to protect our workers and businesses during this trade war with the United States. All members should tell businesses in their areas about the help available on Canada.ca.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, if my colleague has any example he can give regarding backdoor issues, we should work together. Let us make sure that there is true competition in this country and, meanwhile, that we protect our workers, particularly when it comes to American firms that are affecting our industrial base at a time of a trade war. Let us work together. Let us make sure at the same time that businesses across this country know about our supports. People should go on Canada.ca. We need to get the word out. Every single member of the House should be able to reach out to workers and businesses to make sure that we fight this trade war.

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Michael Guglielmin

Conservative
“Canada's own tariffs are hurting Canadian businesses and consumers alongside American tariffs. I want the Prime Minister to explain how he will protect them from this extra burden.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, a Desjardins report confirms there is a double tariff shock on manufacturing businesses here in Canada. A business owner in Woodbridge was not only hit by crushing 50% tariffs on his exports to the U.S. but also recently lost a steel drum contract due to a 50% countertariff imposed by his own government. Washington started this trade war, but how is the Prime Minister going to ensure that Canada’s response does not place an undue burden on Canadian businesses and consumers?

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Mélanie Joly

Liberal
“American tariffs hurt our steel and auto industries. We are putting our own tariffs on American goods to give us power in trade talks. We need to work together to fight these unfair tariffs.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

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  • Government answer in Question Period

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I know my colleague well and I know where he comes from. There is indeed a very important auto sector that uses our Canadian steel. We also need to make sure that sector continues to be competitive, as well as the steel sector. These two sectors have been targeted by many of the American administration’s tariffs. Meanwhile, we are fighting against these tariffs because we know that at the end of the day, when we put countertariffs on the table, it helps us at the negotiating table. Canadians know that these times are tough, but we can help and work together to make sure that we fight against these unjustified tariffs.

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Michael Guglielmin

Conservative
“Our countertariffs could cost Canadian consumers $4 billion and push local businesses to move to the United States. We should compete with the Americans, not tax people more. How much will these tariffs cost Canadians?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, today we heard the minister keep talking about support packages. Oxford economists have been clear that they may soften the blow, but they will not solve the problem. Economist Trevor Tombe estimates that the government’s countertariffs could cost Canadian consumers $4 billion. Meanwhile, businesses in Vaughan—Woodbridge are facing increased costs to their inputs and being forced to consider relocating south of the border. We should out-compete the Americans, not out-tax them. Can the Prime Minister tell Canadians how much his countertariffs will cost them?

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Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“We are in an unfair trade war that we did not start. Canada must fight back with trade rules to protect our workers and businesses, and we will not apologize for it. The opposition needs to stop blaming Canada for this fight.”

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Official Hansard

I hope in this session of Parliament, Mr. Speaker, we will not see this pattern re-emerge. Let us call it the “blame Canada” pattern by the hissy fit brigade. We are in a trade war. We did not provoke this trade war. This trade war is illegal and unjustified. Canada, a sovereign country, will stand up and take the trade and other measures that are required to protect our people, our industries and our workers. We will never apologize for that. The blame Canada brigade should sit right down.

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Kathy Borrelli

Conservative
“Canada's taxes on American metals are hurting Windsor factories like Cavalier Tool. These plants need metal they can only buy in the United States, and the taxes wipe out their profits. I want the government to stop these taxes before more people lose their jobs.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Liberal government’s countertariffs are killing new work for Windsor manufacturers. Cavalier Tool’s three plants need specialized U.S. steel and aluminum they cannot source elsewhere. On $244,000 moulds, their 5% to 10% profit is wiped out by countertariffs. They are trying to maintain their skilled workforce. Under the conditions the Liberals have caused, this is becoming too challenging. How many more Windsor jobs will the government sacrifice?

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Mélanie Joly

Liberal
“I will not accept the member's proposal to drop our tariffs. Windsor is hurt the most by American tariffs. We need our own tariffs to defend auto, steel, and aluminum workers across Canada.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, if there is a city or a town in this country that is affected by the tariffs, it is clearly Windsor. If the colleague really understood what she was asking for, which would weaken the industrial base in Windsor, she would stop asking that question. The countertariffs are so important to make sure we fight back against the tariffs affecting the very auto workers in Windsor, the very steelworkers in the southwestern Ontario region and the aluminum workers in Quebec and B.C. We will make sure that we fight. We do not actually take that proposition as a good one because—

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Jason Groleau

Conservative
“The Prime Minister broke his promise to make a trade deal with the Americans. Retaliatory tariffs are driving up costs for local companies, like Norgate Metal in my riding, which faces seven million dollars in extra fees. I want the Prime Minister to tell us how much these tariffs will actually cost businesses in Quebec and Beauce.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister was elected on a promise to reach an agreement with the Americans. Today, that promise is in ruins. The unjustified escalation of the tariffs and retaliatory tariffs is causing our companies’ operating costs to soar. Norgate Metal in Beauce is already projecting $7 million in additional costs for its current contracts alone. Ultimately, Canadians are the ones who are going to pay the price. Can the Prime Minister tell us how much the retaliatory tariffs will really cost businesses in Quebec and Beauce?

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Mélanie Joly

Liberal
“The opposition wants us to drop our tariffs and give up. We will not do that. The other country's tariffs are illegal and unfair, and they hurt Canadian businesses. We are going to keep fighting for our workers.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, on all of these issues, what my colleagues’ questions clearly show is that they really think the government’s strategy should be to drop the retaliatory tariffs, admit defeat, accept a bad deal or give up. Guess what? We are never going to give up, because these tariffs are illegal and unjustified, and they directly target the industrial base in my colleague’s riding of Beauce. We are going show up for our workers and businesses. In the meantime, we are going to fight.

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Jason Groleau

Conservative
“The government's counter-tariffs are hurting Canadian businesses and putting jobs at risk. Why did the Minister of Finance ignore advice from these businesses?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we are going to give him some very important information about the counter-tariffs. The Liberal Party and Prime Minister’s failed negotiations are hurting our economy. Our businesses are paying a fortune. I will give some real examples. The garage door manufacturer Garaga will be paying $1.5 million a month. Beauce Atlas will be paying $550,000 a week. You heard me, Mr. Speaker: $550,000. These costs are putting jobs here at risk, and Canadians are the ones who are going to pay the price. Why did the Minister of Finance ignore the recommendations of businesses in Beauce, Quebec, and Canada?

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Dominic LeBlanc

Liberal
“We worked with businesses, unions, and the Quebec government to get a trade deal that protects Canadian interests and culture. The Conservatives would have taken any deal. They will not stand up for Canadian workers and businesses, but we will.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, on the contrary, we worked with businesses in Quebec. We were constantly working with union representatives from Quebec, with the Government of Quebec. We worked with business people from across the country because we wanted an agreement that is in Canada’s best economic interest, to strengthen Canada’s economic and cultural sovereignty. We know that the Conservatives would have taken any old deal. Now we see that they do not want to fight for our workers, that they do not want to defend the Canadian industries that are under attack. We do, however, and that is exactly what we are going to do.

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Daniel Gobeil

Liberal

Linked statement

“Major global investors visited Canada last week. Can the Minister of Finance give an update on how we are attracting more investment?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I would like to wish everyone a happy first day of the fall session. Last week, Canada welcomed the world. Investors from nearly 30 countries, managing more than $100 trillion in assets, came to Canada because they see what the people of Chicoutimi—Le Fjord saw when they sent me here. They see Canada’s economic strength and ambition, and the whole world wants to invest in it. Can the Minister of Finance provide an update on how Canada is leveraging its tremendous advantages to unleash historic levels of investment?

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François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“Canada has a strong economy. We have the energy, minerals, industries, and workers the world needs. We are also the only G7 country with free trade deals with every other G7 country. Investors see this, and we should take advantage of it to make Canada stronger.”

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by congratulating my colleague on his election and telling the people of Chicoutimi—Le Fjord that they will have a strong voice here in Ottawa. My colleague is right. We are entering this economic period from a position of strength and confidence. Canada has what the world needs, and investors are noticing, as he said. We have the talent, we have the industries, we have the critical minerals, we have the energy, and we are the only G7 country that has a free trade agreement with every other G7 country. Let us seize this opportunity. Let us be as ambitious as the folks in these industries, and let us build a strong Canada together.

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