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Government Priorities

During Question Period on government priorities, members debated Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act, which changes environmental review, energy project, and trade rules. The Bloc Québécois leader said the bill would automatically approve oil and nuclear projects in advance, weaken environmental and labour protections, privatize ports, and give control over resources to large corporations, calling on Liberal members to oppose it. Liberal ministers replied that the bill would strengthen the economy, create jobs and investments in Quebec such as port projects, help protect jobs from American tariffs, and diversify trade, and that the government was working with Quebec businesses and unions. The Bloc also questioned whether the government’s approach served climate goals, given that much of Canada’s oil goes to the United States.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

6 statements

Yves-François Blanchet

Bloc Québécois
“I oppose this bill. It automatically approves oil and nuclear projects in advance, which will destroy years of environmental and labour protections.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, when it comes to taxation, labour rights and the labour code, and the environment, Bill C‑39 is a brutal step backward. Tucked into this bill are provisions saying that oil and nuclear projects will be automatically approved and, even worse, that this will be done in advance. Does the government realize that the framework protecting the people of Quebec and Canada, which took so many years to build, will be destroyed in just 24 hours?

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Dominic LeBlanc

Liberal
“The Bloc Québécois leader is saying things he knows are not true. Canadians elected our government to build a stronger economy, find new trading partners, and build responsibly. That is what this bill does.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 35 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Respect 60 of 100

    This statement targeted a person rather than their actions or views: “the Bloc Québécois leader likes to exaggerate”.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we know that the Bloc Québécois leader likes to exaggerate, but he is really outdoing himself today. He knows full well that the government was elected by Canadians, including many members from Quebec, specifically to build a more resilient economy, to diversify trade in response to an unreliable trading partner, and to build in a responsible way, which is exactly what we are doing. I think he should stick to the facts and not just repeat things that he knows are untrue.

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Yves-François Blanchet

Bloc Québécois
“The government sold off airports and is now selling off ports. It is also letting oil companies run a fake environmental review process, giving rich global corporations control of our resources. Things were bad under Justin Trudeau, and they are no better under the new Prime Minister. Liberal members should not support this.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, first they privatized airports, now they are privatizing ports. What is more, the government is entrusting the oil companies with a sham environmental assessment process, basically handing over control of Quebec’s and Canada’s resources to an international financial oligarchy. Things were already bad enough under Justin Trudeau. They are no better under the new Prime Minister. How can anyone who was happy as a Liberal MP under Justin Trudeau be in complete agreement with the new Prime Minister?

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Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“This bill helps Quebec grow and brings jobs and investment across the province. We are funding major projects like ports and graphite mining. Quebeckers will benefit from this work.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 46 of 100

    None of this answer addressed the specific question that was asked.

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 40 of 100

    Much of this statement went to praise, blame, greetings, routine procedure or general stories rather than reasons, requests or specific points.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we will have the opportunity to debate this bill, which is designed to boost Quebec’s development and create employment and investment opportunities all across Quebec. Let me give a few examples. There are our investments in the Port of Saguenay and the Port of Montreal, which the member seems keen to discuss. There is also Nouveau Monde Graphite. He needs to understand the scale on which we are developing major projects. We are providing opportunities and job prospects for all Quebeckers.

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Yves-François Blanchet

Bloc Québécois

Linked statement

“The Prime Minister says he wants to stand up to the United States, but he is helping oil companies instead of fighting climate change. Most of the owners of these oil companies are American, and almost all our oil goes to the United States. He is misleading Canadians and Quebeckers.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, we are making progress. He named one. The Prime Minister says he is building a stronger Canada to stand up to the United States. Suddenly, sovereignty has become a virtue. However, the Prime Minister is destroying any attempt to rein in climate change, and he is handing the keys to oil companies. The majority of shareholders in western Canadian oil companies are American, 90% of Canada’s oil is sold to the United States, and there are no tariffs on Canadian oil entering the United States. Are the trust and concern of Quebeckers and Canadians being blatantly abused?

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Dominic LeBlanc

Liberal
“That is not true. We are working with people, businesses, and unions in Quebec to build the economy and protect jobs from American tariffs. We are helping them trade with more countries, including through projects at the Port of Montreal and in renewable energy.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 100 of 100

    Of this answer, 100% addressed the question that was asked.

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, it is quite the opposite. We are working with Quebeckers. We are working with businesses and workers’ representatives in Quebec to build a stronger economy, protect their jobs from the unjustified American tariffs and help Quebeckers and all Canadians diversify their trade. We are doing it at the Port of Montreal and at Contrecoeur, we are doing it on the west coast of Canada, we are doing it with renewable energy projects, and we will stay the course.

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