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Public Services and Procurement

Question period focused on a government security services contract awarded to an American company rather than the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires, a not-for-profit that employs veterans. Conservative members said the Prime Minister had promised to prioritize Canadian suppliers and workers, argued the choice came at the cost of veterans’ jobs, and asked why the government made it. Liberal ministers replied that government purchasing is meant to put Canadian companies, workers and jobs first, pointed to contracts awarded to firms such as General Dynamics as results of the policy, and one minister noted that Veterans Affairs Canada does not award guard services contracts on behalf of other departments while affirming support for veterans’ employment.Written by AI from the debate. Updated .

Official text

7 statements

Dane Lloyd

Conservative
“The Prime Minister promised to hire Canadian workers first. Instead, he gave a 12-million-dollar contract to an American company instead of one that hires Canadian veterans. Why did he do that?”

  • A repeated line

    “The single largest employer of veterans in Canada.”

    Said 3 times by 2 members since October 21.

    Every time it was said
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Prime Minister vowed to make Canada its own best customer. He promised that when his government spends, it will select Canadian suppliers and Canadian jobs first. When it comes to election time, the Prime Minister is elbows up, but when it comes to contract time, he chooses America first. He awarded a U.S. security firm with ties to Trump’s ICE a $12-million contract over the Canadian Corps of Commissionaires, the largest employer of veterans in Canada. Why did the Prime Minister sacrifice Canadian veterans’ jobs to put America first?

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Jenna Sudds

Liberal
“We prioritize Canadian workers, companies, and products. We use government buying power to create jobs, grow local businesses, and strengthen our economy.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, our priority is to put Canadian content, Canadian companies and Canadian workers first, and to use our purchasing power to grow production here at home. That is companies contributing substantively to our economy, employing people, creating good jobs here in our communities and paying taxes here in our communities. That is what we are doing to build Canada strong and build Canadian innovation.

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Dane Lloyd

Conservative
“The government gave a security contract to an American company instead of a Canadian group that hires veterans. I want to know why the Prime Minister chose American corporate profits over jobs for Canadian veterans.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, actions speak louder than words, and the government did exactly the opposite of what the member just said. The Canadian Corps of Commissionaires is a not-for-profit that prioritizes the hiring of Canada’s veterans. For generations, the Canadian government has provided it the right of first refusal for security contracts. The Commissionaires put in a competitive bid, but the America-first Prime Minister chose Trump’s favourite security contractor, Allied Universal, for the job. Was this yet another concession by the Liberal government? Why is the Prime Minister putting the interests of American corporate profits over job opportunities for our courageous veterans?

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Jenna Sudds

Liberal
“We are working hard to bring investment into Canada that helps our communities and supply chains. Look at the contracts we have awarded, like the one to General Dynamics.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, on this side of the House, we are working hard to attract more investment into our country, investment that delivers tangible results and lasting benefits to Canadian communities and supply chains. They want to talk about results. I point them to the contracts that have been awarded. I look at General Dynamics as an example— Some hon. members: Oh, oh!

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Jenna Sudds

Liberal
“Our buying policy is already working after just a few months. It led to a contract with General Dynamics, which brings real jobs to our communities.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, as I was saying, we can point to the results and the impact that this policy has been having already in just a few months. We have seen, most recently, a contract awarded to General Dynamics. Those are tangible results. Those are jobs in communities that matter to Canadians.

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Fraser Tolmie

Conservative

Linked statement

“The government gave a security contract to an American company instead of the Commissionaires, a group that employs Canadian veterans. They did this just to save $80,000. I want the Prime Minister to stop mistreating our veterans.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, the Commissionaires is a not-for-profit organization, Canada’s largest private sector employer of veterans. What commissionaires earn goes back to veterans, not shareholders. Justin Trudeau once told veterans that they were asking for more than he was able to give. That was a slap in the face. Now the Liberal government has handed a CRA security contract to Allied Universal, an American company tied to Trump’s ICE deportation machine, just to save $80,000. That is a backhand to the face. When will the Prime Minister stop beating down on veterans?

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Jill McKnight

Liberal
“Veterans Affairs Canada does not hand out security guard contracts for other departments. We still support hiring veterans and work with businesses that hire them.”
Official Hansard

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his military service and for raising his concerns. Let me be clear again. Veterans Affairs Canada does not award guard services contracts on behalf of other departments or agencies. I, of course, share the view that we must ensure that veterans have the right opportunities to find rewarding employment of their choosing when they are ready. It is fundamental to the national veterans employment strategy. Our government has worked with and will continue to work with veteran employers as we build the strongest economy in the G7.

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