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Public Services and Procurement

This question period dealt with public services and procurement, covering two main subjects. Several Liberal members spoke about Bill C-40 on defence procurement, saying the world is dangerous, the military needs equipment faster, and the bill would speed up purchasing, build more defence supplies in Canada, and create jobs; they pointed to recent announcements including GlobalEye aircraft and armoured vehicles. Most of the exchange, however, was about the LNG Canada expansion and whether Canadian steel and fabricators are being used. Conservatives asked why work on the facility modules is going overseas when Canadian steel fabricators say they could do it, and noted that government contracts to American companies have risen. Liberal ministers replied that Canadian companies cannot make the steel needed for those modules, that all the pipeline steel will be made in Canada with 6,100 jobs and major royalties, and that the opposition should support the project.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

8 statements

Greg Fergus

Liberal

Linked statement

“We have made big progress buying military equipment, including new planes and armoured vehicles. How will this bill help build on that work?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, since the launch of the Defence Investment Agency, we have taken an unprecedented step. Among other things, we announced our plans to acquire six GlobalEye aircraft and a nearly $2‑billion partnership between General Dynamics Land Systems and Canada for 190 armoured vehicles. How will Bill C‑40 support this progress?

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Joël Lightbound

Liberal
“I want the House to pass this bill. The world is dangerous, and our military needs equipment faster. This bill will speed up how we buy defence supplies, make more of them in Canada, and create good jobs.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Hull—Aylmer for his question. In a world that is more divided and dangerous than ever, it is truly vital to give the Canadian Armed Forces the equipment they need to protect us. This has to happen quickly. That is why I am so proud that we introduced Bill C‑40, the strengthening Canada’s defence sector act, to bring procurement and investment together. The goal is to act more quickly, ensure that there are economic benefits for Canadians and have more direct, modern business practices. That is what we need to help strengthen our domestic production, meet the needs of the armed forces and support good jobs across the country.

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Michael Guglielmin

Conservative
“The Prime Minister promised to buy Canadian, but work for a major energy project is going overseas. Canadian steel companies say they can do this work, but no one asked them. I want to know if the government talked to Canadian companies before this work went to other countries.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister promised to build Canadian and buy Canadian. Now, LNG Canada phase two is a massive private sector investment, but the inputs for the facility portion are not coming from Canada. Canadian steel fabricators say that they have the capacity to supply significant portions of this project, but they were not consulted. Before billions of dollars of fabrication went overseas, did anyone in the Liberal government actually ask Canadian industry stakeholders what they could build here at home?

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Tim Hodgson

Liberal
“Canada does not make the steel needed for those modules. But all the steel for the pipeline will be made here, bringing 6,100 jobs and 50 billion dollars to Canada. The opposition should support this project instead of criticizing it.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the modules that he is referring to are not made in Canada because there is no steel that can make those modules in Canada. All of the steel, the 15,000 tonnes that are going to go with the pipeline, is going to be made in Canada, along with the 6,100 jobs and the $50 billion in royalties for Canada. Instead of talking down a project that builds Canada, maybe they should support us in helping to build Canada.

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Michael Guglielmin

Conservative
“The government did not answer my question. Canadian companies say they could build a large part of this natural gas facility, but no one consulted them. The Prime Minister says he supports buying Canadian. Who decided that Canadian industry could not do this work?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, that was not the question. Canadian steel and pipelines do not answer why Canadian companies were not consulted about the fabrication of the LNG facility itself. It is out of touch to point to steel used somewhere else in the project while ignoring Canadian fabricators who say that they can have a substantial portion of this work completed here in Canada. The Prime Minister talks about “buy Canadian”, but Canadian companies apparently were not even consulted. Therefore, who determined Canadian industry could not complete the work? Was it LNG Canada, the Liberal government or nobody because no one even bothered to ask?

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Tim Hodgson

Liberal
“The member is wrong. We talked to Canadian steel companies, and they said they could not fill those orders. They asked us to buy the rest of the steel in Canada, and we will. The Conservatives should stop attacking a project that brings 6,100 jobs and 50 billion dollars to pay for health care, dental care, schools, and roads.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, those are nice comments, but they are completely inaccurate. We actually talked to people at the steel companies, and they said they cannot service those orders. They asked us to make sure the rest of the steel was bought in Canada, and it will be bought in Canada. The Conservatives are talking down projects that create 6,100 jobs. They are talking down a project that creates $50 billion to pay for health care, to pay for dental care, to pay for schools and roads. Why do you not stop talking down Canada, and start trying to—

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Ned Kuruc

Conservative
“The Prime Minister tells people to buy Canadian, but his government gives 50% more contracts to American companies. Major projects are using foreign steel instead of Canadian steel. I want the government to support Canadian workers and make sure projects use our own steel.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister tells Canadians to buy Canadian, but government contracts to American companies have increased by 50% since he took office. Now, LNG Canada plans to use foreign steel for its expansion, while Canadian steel companies say they can do the work. Canadian steelworkers need jobs. The Liberals give slogans, all talk and no results. Conservatives are fighting for lumber workers. Conservatives are fighting for auto workers. Conservatives will continue to fight for the steelworkers of Canada. When will this Prime Minister?

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Evan Solomon

Liberal
“The opposition should support our projects instead of criticizing Canada. This pipeline creates thousands of jobs and buys Canadian steel from businesses in Hamilton, Peterborough, and Windsor. We support Canadian workers and companies.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, instead of talking down the country and instead of talking down projects, they have to build it up. This pipeline is going to provide tens of thousands of jobs and Canadian steel. We are talking about supporting jobs in Hamilton in steel. Why do the hon. members not support Hooper Welding in Hamilton, which employs 100 people? They are making steel. In Peterborough, Kawartha Metals employs 60 people. They are supplying metal. In Windsor, there is Central Stampings. We are supporting the companies making steel because we believe in building in Canada, buying in Canada and believing in Canada.

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