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Intergovernmental Affairs

Question period touched on Bill C-39, the Building Canada Strong Act, a large bill covering project reviews, infrastructure approvals, and economic measures. The Bloc Québécois said the bill weakens democracy and the environment, would let Ottawa take control of Quebec lands, would privatize ports, and that Quebec was not consulted, also raising a separate federal business tax cut it said would cost Quebec $1 billion a year. Liberals replied that they work to bring jobs and investment to Quebec, pointing to the Churchill Falls deal, denied any plan to privatize ports, and said the tax cut would help Quebec small businesses, with the Premier of Quebec calling it positive.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

6 statements

Christine Normandin

Bloc Québécois
“I oppose this bill. It harms our rights, hurts the environment, and lets the federal government take control of Quebec land. Did the Prime Minister talk to Quebec before doing this?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, Bill C‑39 has nothing to do with making Canada strong. It is a bill for making democracy weak. It is 250 pages of measures that take an axe to almost every federal law, undermining our rights and harming our environment. In one of these measures, Ottawa is giving itself the power to designate any part of Quebec as a region of national interest and place it under federal control. Did the Prime Minister consult Quebec before seizing power over Quebec soil?

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Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“Our government works hard to bring jobs and investments to Quebec. For example, the Churchill Falls deal will create 23,000 jobs and provide power to Quebec for generations. We will keep building projects like this.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 21 of 100

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

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  • Government answer in Question Period

    Signal 42 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, one thing the Bloc Québécois has not yet understood is that we are going to work tirelessly and never give up on our efforts to promote Quebec’s development and provide jobs, opportunities and investments across the province. If the member wants an example, she need only look at the Churchill Falls agreement, signed with Quebec and Newfoundland, in which the Prime Minister was personally and directly involved. This project will create 23,000 jobs and supply electricity for generations of Quebeckers. That is what it means to build, and we will continue building.

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Christine Normandin

Bloc Québécois
“The government did not consult Quebec before moving to privatize airports, and now it wants to privatize ports and let foreign investors run them. Did the Prime Minister consult Quebec before introducing this bill?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I will take that as a no. Quebec was not consulted on regions of national interest. That is not all. After announcing, without consulting Quebec, that it planned to privatize airports, the government is now using Bill C‑39 to privatize ports. Quebec’s ports are obviously essential infrastructure for our economy, but the federal government is opening the door for them to be run by foreign investors. Did the Prime Minister once again forget to consult Quebec before introducing legislation to privatize its ports?

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Steven MacKinnon

Liberal
“I sponsored this bill. We are not selling off the ports.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I think the member forgot to consult the sponsor of this bill, meaning me. We are not privatizing ports, period.

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Jean-Denis Garon

Bloc Québécois

Linked statement

“The Prime Minister is making decisions that hurt Quebec without talking to its government first. His business tax cut will cost Quebec $1 billion every year. Will he stop acting like Quebec does not exist?”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister is completely cutting Quebec out of decisions that affect it. It happened with Bill C-39, and it happened again this morning with the tax cut for businesses. Christine Fréchette says that she was never consulted about this tax cut that will blow a $1-billion hole in Quebec’s public finances every year. In the middle of an election, all the parties are finding out that they will have to prepare a budget on October 6 with $1 billion less to work with. The Prime Minister’s stubborn insistence on flying solo is plainly detrimental to the governance of Quebec. Is he going to keep on behaving as though the Government of Quebec does not exist?

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François-Philippe Champagne

Liberal
“Our tax cut helps small and medium businesses in Quebec. It will make them more productive and competitive. Even the Premier of Quebec said it is good for the province. The Bloc Québécois is just arguing, but we will keep working to make businesses strong.”

  • Government answer in Question Period

    Relevance 28 of 100

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

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Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, that is the paradox facing the Bloc Québécois in Ottawa. Our announcement comes as a breath of fresh air for Quebec businesses. We know the reality facing Quebeckers. We know that SMEs are the backbone of our economy. This measure is going to make our SMEs more productive and competitive both nationally and internationally. The Premier of Quebec said it was good for Quebec. While Bloc Québécois members keep arguing, we are going to keep building a strong Canada with strong businesses in Quebec.

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