Philip Lawrence
Northumberland—Clarke, Ontario · Conservative · Canada
“When everyone else said that they were not going to get the sale or the business was not going to grow, Ziad would always find a way. If members have had the honour and privilege of meeting Lebanese Canadians, they know that, bar none, there are no better business people in this country or anywhere in the world.”
“They have been there, making those breakthroughs, making our world literally a better place, including saving lives with medical breakthroughs. Canada is more independent.”
“Mr. Speaker, I will get to the punchline because I do not want to keep the member waiting. We have always needed the type of entrepreneurship and innovation that has been led by Canadians of Arabic origin. I want to tell members a story about a Lebanese gentleman who I got to know. His name is Ziad. He is not the member in the House.”
“He supported other Lebanese members of his community within Canada. His daughter went on to be a very successful lawyer. That is the type of entrepreneurship innovation that Canada is increasingly in need of.”
“It makes all the sense in the world to acknowledge that diversity with a spirit of inclusivity so we can allow all Canadians to achieve the economic dream that, unfortunately, because of 10 years of Liberal mismanagement, has increasingly become more difficult to achieve.”
“Our inflation is still within range of 2.8%, but is creeping up. We have the highest food inflation. A quarter of the population is food-insecure. While we have always been highly dependent on Canadians of Arabic origin, we are even more dependent right now, because we need their entrepreneurial spirit.”
The complete record
Every one of 217 lines we hold for Philip Lawrence, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 5 of 5.
“I just want to read a couple of quotes from the Prime Minister on the election trail. On April 5, he said, “Our government has committed to remove all federal restrictions on mobility by Canada Day. Free trade in Canada. Free mobility by Canada Day”. On April 17, the Prime Minister said, “Secondly, to commit the federal government to do its part by Canada Day... So, free trade in Canada by Canada Day”. On April 20, the Prime Minister said, “Our government will do our part for free trade in Canada. We will legislate the removal of all federal restrictions by July 1st.”
“I recommend her short and pithy, but poignant, speech about the building Canada act to anyone who has the opportunity to check it out. She was right on point. However, when it comes to the free trade and Canada act, I think it is important to look at a little bit of context. Members should remember that not too long ago we had a federal election. Of course, one of the major themes or discussion points in that election was what Canada's response would be to the Trump tariffs, to the pressure coming from perhaps limited access to our greatest trading partner. Both major parties said we should look at trading more within Canada. Numbers such as $200 billion were thrown out there as the amount of additional economic benefits that could come from eliminating interprovincial trade barriers and increasing trade within Canada.”
“The first is to say that any product or service that is authorized or licensed by the province would now be recognized by the federal government. In a similar vein, any provincially recognized profession would now be recognized federally. The second part of the bill is with respect to the building Canada act. The building Canada act has to do with getting projects built that are in the “national interest” of Canada. This legislation is quite ironic because it really says that all those walls, which were put in place over the last decade to stop major projects, would be removed if major projects were in the national interest. Why not just remove those walls to begin with? However, I digress. Most of my comments will be about the free trade and labour mobility act. The member for Lakeland did a fantastic job.”
“Mr. Speaker, as this is my first opportunity to give a speech in the House of Commons, with the indulgence of the House, I would like to spend 30 seconds of my speech thanking my volunteers, my family, and my wonderful community for sending me back here for the third time to represent the great people of Northumberland—Clarke. I thank them all. Their contributions were immeasurable and amazing. Now I am going to talk about the business of today, which is Bill C-5 . Bill C-5 is divided into two different pieces of legislation or parts. The first is the free trade and labour mobility act in Canada; the second is the building Canada act. The free trade and labour mobility act has also been divided into two. There are two major initiatives within it. Both have to do with federal standards.”
“Mr. Speaker, we hear those same talking points over and over again. However, the only guarantee we can have that taxpayer dollars will actually be protected is a change in leadership. Liberals keep getting rich. Canadians keep getting the tax bill. Why, in all heavens, were the ministers promoted instead of fired?”
“Mr. Speaker, in the Auditor General's scathing report on Tuesday, we learned that the Liberals failed to put in place the necessary safety procedures and controls to safeguard Canadian taxpayers' dollars. The result was $64 million to the arrive scam's primary contractor, GC Strategies. Canadians work so hard for their money. When will that money be returned? Will everyone in the House vote with Conservatives to get Canadians' money back?”
“Mr. Speaker, Israel has the right to defend itself, including by disarming Tehran's nuclear program. We should hope that this is the end of the regime's nuclear program and that the great Persian people can now rise up to reclaim their country from the totalitarian regime. Sadly, anti-Semitism has been on the rise here in Canada. Can the government please tell us the extra steps it will take to protect Canada's Jewish community from anti-Semites, who might use the recent events as an excuse for violence?”
“Mr. Speaker, on April 17, 2025, the Prime Minister said, “Secondly, to commit the federal government to do its part by Canada Day, so free trade in Canada by Canada Day.” Even if this legislation passes by July 1, we will still have many, many barriers, some provincial and even some federal. Why did the Prime Minister mislead Canadians?”
“Mr. Speaker, tents are not houses. The Prime Minister told us during the campaign that Canada was facing the biggest crisis of our lifetime. Well, here is a crisis: In 2015, housing costs were an average of 38% of Canadian household budgets. Today, it is overwhelming. It is 52%. A recent study found that Toronto residents spend more of their income on housing than nearly every other city in the world. We were told that the Prime Minister is the “man with the plan”. Canadians want to see it, and time is of the essence. When are we going to get a budget?”
“Mr. Chair, since we will have the legislation by, I believe, tomorrow, and I look forward to the technical briefing, will the minister commit to providing all economic analysis of the financial impact and economic impact of the legislation?”
“Mr. Chair, I thank the minister for that, but those numbers were all calculated on the basis of eliminating all barriers. We are not even sure if any barriers will be eliminated by Canada Day. This was a disingenuous false promise by the Prime Minister . Does the minister think he set her up for failure?”
“Mr. Chair, the member mentioned the number $200 billion. That has been stated by academics to be for the removal of all barriers. It has been stated clearly today that we will not have all barriers gone. What will be the economic impact of the barriers that will be removed by Canada, if any?”
“Mr. Chair, the Prime Minister committed five different times during the campaign to eliminating “all barriers”. These are his words, not mine. I realize there may be some reasons why he cannot, but that is why I never would have made that promise to begin with. Does the minister think the Prime Minister was being disingenuous when he made the promise that we would have free trade in Canada by Canada Day?”
“Mr. Chair, just to answer the question, we will read the legislation and then find out whether we are going to support it. I think that makes sense. I was actually hoping that we might get draft legislation in advance so that we would not have to be slowed down by amendments or other contributions we may have. Once again, will all barriers be gone by Canada Day?”
“Mr. Chair, Conservatives are committed to eliminating interprovincial trade barriers. My challenge, though, is with what I heard at the doors quite often. I cannot say how many folks I heard from who said they were tired of politicians saying one thing and then doing another. The Prime Minister , then the Liberal candidate, said on five separate occasions that we would have free trade in Canada by Canada Day. Can the minister confirm that that will be the case?”
“Mr. Speaker, on April 5, 17, 20, 21 and 29, the Prime Minister committed to “Free trade in Canada by Canada Day”. Almost immediately after the election, the Prime Minister already broke his promise, saying instead that the Liberals would only introduce legislation to eliminate federal and provincial trade barriers by Canada Day. I have a simple question: Why did the Prime Minister mislead Canadians?”
“Mr. Speaker, the member for St. Catharines talked a bit in his speech about the removal of interprovincial trade barriers, the federal ones, to be specific. There has not been any degree of specificity as to which of them will be there. Will they be the ones that remain, such as the exemptions remaining in the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, or will the government be removing additional ones beyond the Canadian Free Trade Agreement?”