Chris Lewis
Essex, Ontario · Conservative · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce petition 451‑00919. More than 3.4 billion people live in countries that spend more on debt payments than they do on health or education.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is an awfully heavy day in the House today, when we are supposed to collectively be trying to bring peace and unity not only to Canada, but to the world. Hearing the heckling toward my hon. colleague is pretty darn embarrassing. Equally, though, I am darn proud of the member for standing up for what is right.”
“Madam Speaker, my colleague gave an impassioned and compassionate speech, and I understand the sacrifice that the gentleman has made as well. I was honoured to be with Corporal Bruce Moncur at a celebration of life at the Royal Canadian Legion earlier this year, and this past Saturday, I was honoured to be with Windsor's air force squadro…”
“Madam Speaker, I will be very brief. I had the opportunity, I believe it was late last year or early this year, to celebrate Mr. Bruce Moncur with his family. How important is it that this motion go through today, to ensure that future generations will also support and protect Canada?”
“It pocketed $8 billion in revenue windfall from high global oil prices, roughly $2 billion for every $10 increase on the price of a barrel, yet the response has been nothing shy of chump change.”
“Mr. Speaker, as always, it is just such an honour to serve the amazing, hard-working residents of Essex who have put their trust in me to be their voice in this very uncertain time. As I always say, I will continue to give all praise to my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Without Him, nothing is possible.”
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“Mr. Speaker, I rise to introduce petition 451‑00919. More than 3.4 billion people live in countries that spend more on debt payments than they do on health or education. The petitioners are calling on the government to initiate a review of all bilateral debts held by Canada, to advocate in multilateral fora, such as the G7, the G20, the IMF and the World Bank, and to increase the grants portion of Canada's bilateral climate finance to at least 60%.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is an awfully heavy day in the House today, when we are supposed to collectively be trying to bring peace and unity not only to Canada, but to the world. Hearing the heckling toward my hon. colleague is pretty darn embarrassing. Equally, though, I am darn proud of the member for standing up for what is right. What is not in the bill, or what is totally missing? What needs to be put in the bill to ensure that people are safe?”
“Madam Speaker, my colleague gave an impassioned and compassionate speech, and I understand the sacrifice that the gentleman has made as well. I was honoured to be with Corporal Bruce Moncur at a celebration of life at the Royal Canadian Legion earlier this year, and this past Saturday, I was honoured to be with Windsor's air force squadron for the cadets. Trying to look forward and trying to be what Corporal Moncur would want, how do we engage, without celebrating those who went before us, young adults to join our service to ensure that Canada is protected?”
“Madam Speaker, I will be very brief. I had the opportunity, I believe it was late last year or early this year, to celebrate Mr. Bruce Moncur with his family. How important is it that this motion go through today, to ensure that future generations will also support and protect Canada?”
“Mr. Speaker, I have spoken at length, almost ad nauseam, with young adults in Essex. Basically, it has come to a point now where they are saying it is not even worth trying to save for a home. What I really found interesting was when the member talked about what we would say to the person at the gas pump. That really resonated with me. What is the message? What is the proper message? What do I send back to these young adults who are just trying to get ahead in Canada?”
“Mr. Speaker, I have a lot of respect for the hon. member. I do have to smile a little, because at the end of the day, I cannot go back in good faith to the residents of Essex, look them in the eye and say that we are actually putting more taxes on them because it is the right thing to do. I cannot do that. None of us can do that. What we need to do is come up with common-sense solutions, such as the very one being proposed today, to ensure that future generations have the same opportunity going forward as each and every one of us to hopefully leave the world a better place than we found it. That is our job, that is why we are here and that is why we bring up these very strong suggestions.”
“Mr. Speaker, the hon. member gets it. He really understands exactly what people are facing. I would suggest that the $20 he is speaking about should be $40, because the price of food at the grocery store has been affected because there is so much tax on fuel. People need the extra $20 to maybe buy some food that would not cost the same as the food we bought perhaps three, four or five years ago. Yes, I completely agree with the member, and I appreciate the fact that he truthfully understands what the issue is.”
“Mr. Speaker, the hon. member's question was very respectful. I believe all 343 members of Parliament can probably point to local stories in their own ridings about the cost of everything these days. One of my favourite things I love to do is spend time with my sons and, when their buddies come over after a day of fishing or perhaps a day of hunting, listen to their stories. They are not talking about people who are overly privileged. They are talking about their own lives today and the very fact that they cannot afford to go somewhere or cannot afford to do something. They just want an opportunity going forward. I appreciate the question, but quite frankly, it affects all of us.”
“In closing, I am asking the government to let the middle class succeed by cutting all federal taxes on gas and diesel for the rest of the year, including the GST, and permanently scrap the clean fuel standard. Is it too much to ask? The Liberals have already profited $8 billion from windfall tax revenues. What we are proposing will save a family of four $1,218. As the member of Parliament for Essex, I am asking the House to listen to the voices of Essex residents and hear their struggles. They are hopeful, but they cannot hold the line forever.”
“The burden on diesel, the fuel that powers our farmers and our supply chains, is even more nonsensical. As a resident in Amherstburg asked, “How is it possible that we are allowing the oil industry to charge more for diesel than for gasoline fuel?” The answer is clear. Diesel is more expensive because the Liberals have added more tax on diesel: a 10¢ federal excise tax, eight cents of GST and a seven-cent clean fuel standard. One Essex resident wrote me, “If diesel fuel comes down in cost, the transportation of goods will be less, which in effect should lower the cost of goods available for sale.” I could not agree more. The government needs to exit its utopian world, where we just jet-set around the world and have conversations and photo ops, and instead look at what is happening on Canadian soil.”
“It pocketed $8 billion in revenue windfall from high global oil prices, roughly $2 billion for every $10 increase on the price of a barrel, yet the response has been nothing shy of chump change. While the Liberals claim that affordability is better than it has been in years, their recent tax cut saved only 10¢ per litre on gas and four cents per litre on diesel. In contrast, the Conservative motion to cut costs at the pump by 25¢ per litre and save a family of four $1,218 per year is a common-sense solution. I know that because Australia, Spain, Ireland, Italy, Germany and Austria, to name a few countries, have already moved to cut fuel taxes or provide direct relief at the pump. Even our neighbours to the south have a competitive advantage because of these taxes. Canadians pay nearly 20% more for fuel than Americans: 20¢ more.”
“At the end of the day, the price at the pumps directly correlates with the cost of shipping food, homebuilding and the food that families can afford on the table. Affordability is not just a word for Essex residents. It is something they desperately need. This is why we are calling on the House to end all federal taxes on gas and diesel for the rest of the year, including the GST, and permanently scrap the clean fuel standard. We must answer this Essex father's question: “Why is the government not being more proactive in helping the current situation be more manageable for the hard-working middle- and lower-class families?” The government cannot claim that it lacks resources.”
“Why is the government not being more proactive in helping the current situation be more manageable for the hard-working middle- and lower-class families?” In Amherstburg, that anxiety is turning into fear: “gas prices [are] currently getting to a level that is placing a significant financial burden on families.... For many of us in Essex County, driving is a necessity for work, school, and daily life. My fear is that...these prices will continue to rise, and start affecting other commodities such as food and other necessities.” My constituents are right to be afraid. In Windsor-Essex, where our manufacturing and tool and die sectors are already facing an existential threat from foreign tariffs, high fuel costs are a weight they cannot carry.”
“She said, “I am reaching out to you today to ask that you help remove the tax on gas.” Further, in Belle River, the frustration is tied to our energy independence: “We need help with gas prices, especially when our gas doesn't come from the Middle East.” (1150) These are not isolated complaints. They are cries for help from a region under immense pressure. When gas prices soar, they act as a tax on every single sector in our economy. As one father in Essex noted, “To the untrained eye there seems to be very little action to control the gas prices we are currently seeing and the resulting increase in the price of everything else a family needs to live. In my family, we have three jobs just to make ends meet.”
“Today, I am here to provide a reality check for the government and paint a picture of what affordability would actually look like for Essex residents by telling this House a few stories from real, everyday people who have written to me this year asking for help. Consider a female auto worker in our region who writes, “As a person living in Kingsville, who commutes to Windsor five, sometimes even six times a week for work, I am asking you to help make life more affordable for your fellow Canadians. The price of gas is at an all-time high, and [the Prime Minister] is blind to what Canadians are currently going through: the lack of affordability and the cost of living crisis.” She is not asking for more rhetoric.”
“I know the government has claimed that it has acted faster and more comprehensively than our global peer countries in response to the increased price in gas, but in Essex, “faster” is not how we describe the rise in the cost of living, and “comprehensive” is not how we describe a tax relief plan that ignores the reality at the pump. I know the government has offered to cut taxes on fuel, which, by the way, affects only a third of the taxes on gas for a third of the year. While the Prime Minister has said that affordability is better now than it has been in recent years, the families in my riding are telling a different story.”
“It was a brand new house with a finished concrete driveway. I thought, how in the world is this even possible? That was some 25 years ago. Unfortunately, what I am hearing now is more of, “Why even bother anymore? I just can't get ahead.” That is wildly sad. I rise today to address a glaring disconnect between the government's rhetoric and the lived reality of Canadians. While the Liberal government has prioritized the word “affordable”, over four dozen times in budget 2025, for the people I represent, that word is losing its meaning. “Affordable” and “affordability” are good words, but they have begun to ring hollow for families because they lack concrete action. As a man of my word, I am urging the government to make good on its word and ensure that affordability actually translates into relief that Canadians can feel.”
“Her name is Fran Rankin. I just want to ensure that Fran Rankin's name is put on record in the Hansard. She is the most lovely wife to one of my other best friends, Mark Rankin. I just want her to know that we love her, Essex loves her, and we are bringing all our passion and support for her. I will get into the business of the day. Really, what I am speaking about today is what I think about when I look at my children, who are 26, 25 and 23. I also have a grandchild, Levi, who just turned five. I think about the future we are leaving them. What legacy are we leaving for future generations? I always go back to this. I believe they just, quite frankly, do not have the same opportunity that we had growing up. I bought my first house for $149,900 and had zero clue how I was going to pay for it.”
“Mr. Speaker, as always, it is just such an honour to serve the amazing, hard-working residents of Essex who have put their trust in me to be their voice in this very uncertain time. As I always say, I will continue to give all praise to my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Without Him, nothing is possible. I want to say thanks so much to the amazing member for Prince Albert for his passion and his compassion for the residents of his area. I have not been able to visit his riding yet, although I hope to one day, but I have seen his work in action when he has come down to my riding. I want to thank him so much for his vision, his leadership and, quite frankly, his mentorship for myself. It is not often that many of us have a whole bunch of friends, but a very dear friend of mine is going through an awful tough time right now.”
“Madam Speaker, I rise again to share what a resident in Essex wrote to me: “Just want to express my deep concerns with...the direction that Canada is heading. I did not think it could get worse than Trudeau”. My response is this. This costly credit card budget means more debt. The Liberal Prime Minister doubled Trudeau's deficit. There is more spending and there are more taxes. He is just another Liberal. When will the government end its costly spending so Canadians can afford to live?”
“Mr. Speaker, Saturday was a special day of celebration of an amazing woman, mentor and friend. Mrs. Pauline Robinet was my grade 5 teacher at St. John de Brebeuf school in Kingsville. She has been instrumental in my life journey. Stern but fair, passionate and compassionate, she strived to create best outcomes for her students. After I got a perfect report card, I wrote Mrs. Robinet a letter stating that if I did not become a priest, I wanted to marry her. I have the great honour of speaking to grade 5 and grade 10 civics classes across Essex. Our teachers today are equally special and want the very best for their students. I thank Sister Mary Denise, Mrs. Robinet, for all she has done and continues to do, and I wish a happy 85th birthday to her, Mrs. R. Our world is a better place because of her.”
“Mr. Speaker, I received an email from a resident of Essex who said, “...the Prime Minister stated that life is becoming more affordable.... For many [Essex] residents, it does not feel like affordability has improved.” Instead, this Prime Minister has added $90 billion in new spending, driving up debt, costs and taxes for Canadians. He is just another Liberal. When will the Prime Minister rein in reckless spending of our taxpayer dollars and take real action to reduce the deficit?”
“Mr. Speaker, when the official opposition leader came to Windsor and made the announcement, I guess a week ago on Sunday, on the shop floor of a plant that actually produces the parts and the moulds for the auto industry, members of Unifor proudly stood behind him. We are going to continue to do the talks with the union reps and with the workers themselves on the shop floor. The conversation is not over. It has only just begun.”
“Mr. Speaker, what I have seen is the escalation of 49,000 Chinese vehicles being brought onto Canadian soil, 49,000 more vehicles that are not being built in Windsor. We can bring $3 billion in for sure, but at the end of the day, why do we have 49,000 Chinese vehicles on our soil when we have the capacity, the know-how, the knowledge and the greatest skilled trades in the world to build them right here on Canadian soil?”
“We have a plan to make it more affordable to buy Canadian by removing the GST on all Canadian-made vehicles, to bring home production through performance by implementing a rule that for every car produced in Canada, the same manufacturer would get to sell a car in Canada duty-free, to protect North American supply chains by maintaining the minimum 75% North American content and existing CUSMA rules of origin, and to develop automotive security and technology by creating a harmonized North American cybersecurity and data standard. It is an honour to stand on behalf of the hard-working folks from Essex and Windsor, and I will close with this: I am here today to say no more job losses, empty promises or sacrifices from our auto workers. That is why I support the Conservative plan for a tariff-free auto pact.”
“I said that what is really ironic is that when I fly from Windsor to Ottawa, there is a Mexican plane sitting on the tarmac with parts from Mexico. My point is that it is so wildly integrated that all of us must jointly work together. I know that my time is running short. I could talk for hours on this, but obviously I do not have the time.”
“I touched on tier twos and tier threes, and I will say that they truly are the backbone of the assembly plants. Without them, quite frankly, nothing gets assembled. I have visited so many mould shops and tool and die shops throughout the Windsor-Essex region, each with their own story and each with their own fastball that they can throw. Equally, I was down in Mexico about six weeks ago on a trade with other members of the House from both sides of the aisle. We had the opportunity to meet with the Senate of Mexico, with the senators, and in a private meeting I asked what we can do to support them, but equally, how they can support us. A senator said that it is ironic that we have what they need and they have what we need.”
“I want to point out a couple of folks here. Somebody who has become a great friend of mine is Brian Kingston, and I also admire him because he works so tirelessly. He is the President of the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association, and he said, “North American integration has underpinned Canada's auto industry for over 60 years. Diversification is not an option.” Mr. Kingston goes on to say, “The policies outlined in the Conservative...plan recognize this reality and aim to make it more attractive to build cars in Canada.” Further, Mr. Jeff Gray from Unifor Local 222 came out and said, “Finally, a common sense plan to protect the livelihood of thousands of Ontario Auto sector workers. A plan that restores past production levels and secures a long-term future”. Those are not my words. They are from industry and labour.”
“I have had numerous opportunities, in the past and again this year, to visit the auto show in Toronto. It is an amazing auto show, by the way. I met with so many industry leaders about the beginning of our plan and what our thoughts were, to get their feedback and to understand more about what industry needs and what we can do communally to ensure that our auto sector is absolutely strong like it used to be, so that we are not down to 1.2 million vehicles built in Canada from the two million we used to build. Let us double that. I have built some pretty strong relationships over six years. I will even go as far as to say that, and I am going to preempt the strike during questions, I have spent a lot of time speaking to labour as well, specifically with Unifor. As a matter of fact, I had them in my office this afternoon.”
“Basically, all the managers could say was they absolutely adored our plan, they think it is bang on, and they are dead against tariffs as well. This was from the very senior managers of General Motors in downtown Detroit, right in the middle of the big three, in the heart of the big three. That is what they said. We then went a bit outside of Detroit to Dearborn, Michigan, to a brand new, beautiful, gorgeous Ford Motor Company facility. They basically gave us the exact same message, in that they need our plan and they like our plan. They are going to invest in Canada, and they hope that our plan helps invest even more into Canada. It truly was an honour. (1705) I am a co-chair of the Conservative auto caucus and have been for about six years now.”
“It is why I am very proud to stand here, in the people's chair of Essex, to speak about the Conservatives' opposition motion to introduce a tariff-free auto pact. I will be splitting my time, whatever is remaining, with the great member for Cambridge . I had the great opportunity to be with the Leader of the Opposition last Friday. We started out in Windsor with an announcement, and then we crossed the border. It is the busiest international border crossing in North America. Quite frankly, it is a border that sees a vehicle's parts cross it six to seven times before the vehicle is actually assembled. When we went across the border, our first stop was at General Motors' headquarters in Detroit. We had a great discussion, a very in-depth discussion.”
“I am so thankful to be able to stand in this place today. I will not yell, scream or get really crazy about this, because it is somewhat of a sombre moment. When I think about the assembly plant workers at Stellantis in Windsor, I also think about the tool and die makers, the mould makers, the tier twos and tier threes, and all of those who deserve nothing less than complete support and a plan to ensure that food is on their table. I do not want to speak only about the workers. I want to talk about the businesses: the blood, sweat and tears, all the money invested, all the risks that they have taken, and all the chances to ensure that there is food on the table for those workers.”
“It is ironic that the very people who get so many of us back and forth to Ottawa to do the people's work are the ones who were injured. My heart is equally with the firefighters. Lastly, I just want to say hello to the students who got a virtual tour of the House of Commons. Thanks so much for coming on a virtual tour. There is a reason that we have a great big windshield on a vehicle and a small rearview mirror. The small rearview mirror is so we never forget where we came from. It is vitally important to know where we came from. The reason for the big windshield in the front is not just to clean bugs off it. It is to know where we are going, and that is the plan. When people jump in their vehicles, they have a plan. They are going to the hockey rink, to the grocery store or perhaps to an Easter party.”
“Mr. Speaker, as always, it is such an honour to be in the House to serve the amazing residents of Essex, and quite frankly, the region and the country. I have a couple of quick notes before I get into this very important conversation. I just want to thank the people who put on the National Prayer Breakfast today. In my speeches, I always thank my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. This morning, everybody at the breakfast came together and truly gave all grace and glory back to him. I want to say happy birthday to my daughter, Faith. It is coming up here very shortly, but we will not be here next week, so it is important that I say happy birthday, sweetheart. She is daddy's little girl who is not so little anymore. My heart is with the two pilots, their family at Air Canada, and all the victims.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am proud to represent the hard-working auto workers of Essex-Windsor, who build vehicles that keep North America moving. Living on Canada's busiest border crossing, I understand first-hand how deeply connected Canada and the U.S. are and how vital it is to strengthen the auto sector on both sides of the border. After 10 years of the Liberals in power, Canadian auto production has fallen by half, from over two million vehicles to just over 1.2 million. The Prime Minister promised to get tariffs removed by July 21, 2025, yet has allowed Donald Trump to collect $2 billion in tariffs from auto manufacturers. I am here today to say no more: no more job losses, no more empty promises and no more sacrifices from our auto workers. That is why I support the Conservative plan for a tariff-free auto pact.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Essex-Windsor auto sector is not just assembly lines; it is mould-makers, tool shops, parts suppliers and automation firms. The Liberals promised to protect jobs, yet they are handing out money to America EV companies, importing Chinese EVs and costing thousands of families their livelihoods. EV policy was meant to protect workers. Will the Liberals stop forcing Canadian workers to subsidize foreign-made vehicles and remove the GST on new Canadian-made vehicles?”
“Mr. Speaker, that is a fantastic question. At the end of the day, it is because Liberals do not get it. They are not on the shop floors. They are not seeing it for what it is. They are not suffering with the folks who are trying to figure out how they are going to pay their bills or put their kids into soccer this year. They do not understand. They are not in the middle of it. However, they can rest assured that Conservatives will ensure that life gets better.”
“Mr. Speaker, my hon. colleague brings up some really good points in regard to all the subsidies for infrastructure that have been put in place. I believe they are around $53 billion. At the Stellantis plant in Windsor, there are great jobs, but it was designed to build electric vehicle batteries for vehicles, and today, it is not building them for vehicles. The government needs to really understand that with all the money it is putting out, it has to get it back into Canadian hands. That is only going to start happening if we are manufacturing in Canada.”
“Mr. Speaker, how do we support it? What we do not do is send $5,000 subsidies for electric vehicles to other countries, only to turn around and sell them back to Canadians who, quite frankly, cannot afford those vehicles. I was pretty black and white in my speech. We have to stop moving the goalposts on Canadian companies and start making sure they have the appropriate backstops to keep Canadian auto workers moving and working.”
“I am very proud that my colleagues and I have introduced this piece of legislation, which would make life more affordable. To conclude, the government told industry, “Here's the goalposts and here's what you're going to do”, and industry did that. Now the government is saying, “Oh, by the way, we know you made huge investments. We're not going to give you any support for those investments, but we just changed the goalposts again.” It is no wonder that Canadian companies are leaving this country in droves when the government makes it so unaffordable to do business in Canada. Conservatives are here to ensure that we are part of the solution, not part of the problem.”
“They are the same ones, such as those in Unifor, who sponsor so many hockey teams, soccer teams and so many events. We see them everywhere. These are the ones who are truthfully community-minded, and they equally do not deserve to be slapped in the face. That is why Conservatives are always going to put Canadian workers and auto manufacturers first. Conservatives are not about subsidizing other countries. What we are really about is making life more affordable for Canadians, which is why this bill will introduce the removal of HST on Canadian-built vehicles. What does that mean? It means about $2,500 on a $50,000 vehicle. By the way, the $50,000 vehicles are somewhat out of reach, almost a luxury vehicle for Canadians today, because of the price of food and consumables.”
“I can promise members that the workers in Windsor—Essex are not very excited when they wake up early in the morning to go to work and find out that, at the end of every week or biweekly off their paycheques, their money will be going to subsidize a job in the United States or in other foreign countries. I can only imagine how incredibly upset they must be. I can only imagine what the conversation on the shop floor is. Can members imagine waking up in the morning and going to work knowing that, at the end of the year, our taxpayer dollars, the ones that we literally worked so hard for and gave to the government, were going to another country, another company, so that they could literally eat your lunch? It is absolutely nonsensical, and it is, quite frankly, disgusting. These workers have built our industry.”
“My father always said that we can have the greatest widget in the world, but we will not build one and we will not sell one without the people. Windsor—Essex has some of the finest skilled trades workers in the world, the greatest tool and die makers and machinists in the world. The infrastructure is already there, but the government continues to tie the hands of these tier twos, tier threes and the OEMs, who are just trying to put forward good-paying jobs to allow food on the tables of Canadians across this country. I have met with them on the shop floors.”
“They are from the Canadian Vehicle Manufacturers' Association and the global automotive manufacturers association. I have met with Canadian mould-makers. They have been telling me for six and a half years that industry does not drive demand, that consumers drive demand, so get rid of the EV mandates. We have been screaming from the top of the hills to the government to please get rid of the mandates. It finally listened and got rid of the EV mandates. What it did instead was to again move the goalposts. Everybody now gets to start from ground zero once again. (1155) Next week, I will be at the Toronto Auto Show, having round tables with industry leaders once again. I can only imagine what that conversation is going to look like. However, most of all, it is about the workers. It has only ever been about the workers.”
“I met with some very influential people down in Mexico. It was a great trip. I also met with the senate of Mexico. I heard about how much further along they are in their talks with the United States, specifically on the automotive sector, than we are. The government, quite frankly, is nowhere near the finish line on that front. What does that really mean? It means more Canadian jobs lost. Windsor-Essex specifically has 24,000 workers, indirectly and directly, supported by our auto industry. I am sure many of them wake up in the morning and wonder if the third shift at Stellantis is actually going to go down to a second shift again. I have had an opportunity for so many years now to meet with Brian Kingston, David Adams and Huw Williams.”
“These folks put all the investment into their EVs. I am talking about the mould-makers and the tool shops, the ones that had to retool because the government, the Liberal government, told them that this will be the mandate. Now they have done all that investment, and what do they have? They are told that we are going to go back to fuel engines because the government realized that the consumer is not ready, that the vast majority of consumers are not ready to purchase these EVs. At the same time, it is going to move the goalposts again, so that even though they have made all the investments, the government has given them no support to cover those costs and is now going to talk about a new fuel standard. I just got back, about a month ago, from a trip with the Canada-United States Inter-Parliamentary Group to Mexico.”
“He really did encapsulate so much of what my speech is about. I have had the opportunity to live right next to the busiest international border crossing in North America, which will be opened, the Gordie Howe International Bridge. For six and a half years, I have had the opportunity to be a co-chair of the Conservative auto caucus. I have met with dozens and dozens of manufacturers across the country, but specifically in the Windsor-Essex region. These manufacturers have invested enormous amounts of money to create jobs and to create a good, strong tax base for our region. The part that frustrates me the most, probably, is that these are the folks who invest the money and what they end up with is that the goalposts move. A decade ago, Canada was building about 2.3 million vehicles per year. We are now at about 1.2 million per year.”
“Madam Speaker, it is always an honour to stand in this place to represent the amazing folks of Essex. As always, I want to thank my Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, without whom this is not possible. On behalf of the folks of Essex, yesterday was a really touching day here in the House, a moment of solidarity and thoughts and prayers for the Tumbler Ridge families, victims, survivors and the ones that probably hit me the most, the first responders and the thought of what they are waking up to today and tomorrow and the weeks, months and years ahead. As a first responder myself, I know it is a long journey, and I hope they know there is always somebody to talk to. There is always support. I am thinking of and praying for them. I want to, first and foremost, thank my colleague from Dufferin—Caledon .”
“This is not a coincidence; this is a failure. Let us be clear. Who benefits from this EV policy? It is the United States and China. Who pays the people of Essex?”
“Mr. Speaker, 24,000 auto workers in Essex—Windsor are once again being asked to pay for the Liberals' failed patchwork EV policy. These are workers who did everything right. They built the strongest automotive ecosystems in North America, yet the government continues to ship Canadian dollars out of the country, sending a clear message to our workers that they are not good enough. The 49,000 Chinese EVs that the Liberals allowed to flood our market are projected to account for up to 30% of our EV sales this year without end-of-life safeguards in place. It does not stop there; the Liberals are handing out up to $2.3 billion in subsidies for EVs made in the United States, and just after the Liberals reannounced their EV policy, Stellantis sold its stake in the NextStar battery plant and shut down plug-in hybrid production in Windsor.”