Steeve Lavoie
Beauport—Limoilou, Quebec · Liberal · Canada
“It is a commitment to Canada's youth and a message of hope, confidence and responsibility. We cannot predict Canada's future. We must build it with our young people. Earlier, I spoke about the Red Seal. The Red Seal represents Canadian excellence in many trades.”
“Well, this spring, the government reaffirmed the need to invest in them and to ensure that no young person in this country feels abandoned by the government when it comes to rising to the challenges of current, potential or future issues. This is exactly what this economic update is proposing through a host of important measures.”
“We also have immense reserves of the critical minerals that are essential to the global energy transition and the technologies of tomorrow. We enjoy privileged access to international markets through free trade agreements with countries that represent more than 1.5 billion consumers. We are already beginning to see the results.”
“That is a direct investment in young people, allowing them to reach their full potential and contribute to our country's growth and economic development.”
“They are the ones who answer calls, greet constituents, help people navigate their dealings with government departments, organize our meetings, prepare our files and enable us to be present both in our ridings and in Ottawa.”
“In particular, I want to thank Nancy, Souraya, Nicholas, Aboubacar and Myriam. I am proud to work with them. I rise today to speak to the economic update from a perspective that hits home for me, especially as a father and grandfather, and that issue is youth.”
The complete record
Every one of 281 lines we hold for Steeve Lavoie, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 6 of 6.
“Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to join the debate today on Bill C‑5 , the one Canadian economy act. This bill will enable us to remove federal barriers to the internal flow of goods and services and to labour mobility, while continuing to protect the health, safety and security of Canadians, their social and economic well-being and the environment. It will also help advance nation-building projects to produce and connect energy, goods and services across Canada's vast land mass and in global markets. This bill will help Canada become the strongest economy in the G7 and a global energy superpower. To my mind, what defines an exceptional leader is first and foremost their ability to turn every crisis into an opportunity. With Bill C‑5 , our Prime Minister is showing that he is of the same calibre as the people who built our country.”
“Mr. Speaker, I have a question for my colleague. We are talking about trade corridors within Canada, we are talking about 13 provinces and we are talking about indigenous peoples. How will the government be able to do all that while ensuring that it respects the laws of each of the provinces and, above all, the rights of indigenous peoples?”
“G3E's approach is rooted in openness, integrity, innovation and excellence, while fostering dialogue, respecting knowledge and upholding scientific rigour and transparency in everything that it does.”
“Mr. Speaker, I took part in last Saturday's launch of G3E's summer season with a fishing for all event on the Beauport River. For over 30 years, the water education and eco-monitoring group G3E has exemplified civic engagement in protecting Quebec's aquatic environments. This innovative organization has developed an extensive network and impactful programs. G3E uses science and passion to provide water education and monitoring tools, supported by over 269 adopted rivers to date. These initiatives reach nearly 39,000 students and 35 community groups, and they have restored more than 409 kilometres of riverbanks and collected 270 tonnes of waste.”
“Mr. Speaker, the rebate cheques were issued on April 22, as planned and out of respect for Canadians. Many families are in need, and they expected to receive their cheques on April 22. This refund was not made out of favouritism, but out of respect for Canadians.”
“Mr. Speaker, this motion is indeed causing division. However, the federal government respected the will of the provincial government to have its own carbon exchange. Today, the families who were counting on that April 22 cheque have received it and they were compensated. It is not favouritism. It is a question of fairness for these families. We are not sowing division. We are acting out of respect for those who paid this carbon exchange.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canadians wanted a climate policy that transcends political division, and we listened. From day one, we eliminated consumer carbon pricing, which has already lowered fuel costs for Canadian families. We are maintaining industrial carbon pricing, which is three times more effective than consumer carbon pricing.”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his many questions. I will try to answer them as best I can. As he said, something that has never been paid cannot be reimbursed. What is clear is that Quebec has never participated in the Canadian carbon exchange. It created its own carbon exchange, and we respected its provincial autonomy. As my colleague put it so well, something that has never been paid cannot be reimbursed.”
“That starts with creating one Canadian economy out of 13. Internal barriers to trade and labour mobility cost Canadians as much as $200 billion each year. That is why we have introduced legislation to remove all remaining federal barriers to internal trade and labour mobility. Our government is working hard right now to meet Canadians' needs, and that includes making life more affordable across the country, including in Quebec, so that Canadians can keep more of their hard-earned paycheques.”
“That is why we are committed to presenting the details of our plan in the fall in a comprehensive, effective, ambitious and prudent federal budget. One of the key priorities that we have discussed and focused on since the start of our mandate is to improve the efficiency of government spending. We are looking for areas where we can cut costs and improve public service productivity. Day-to-day government spending, that is, the government's operating budget, has been growing by 9% each year. The government will introduce measures to bring that growth below 2%. In parallel, the government will take a series of measures to catalyze new investment to create better jobs and higher incomes for Canadians. As we have already mentioned, the government's overarching goal and core mission is to build the strongest economy in the G7.”
“This will help more young people and families achieve their dream of home ownership. Thanks to these measures, we are making changes to lower taxes, we are lowering costs and we are putting more money in the pockets of Canadians and Quebeckers. Those are just some of the ways the government is making life more affordable. The government will also maintain the programs that are already helping families save thousands of dollars every year. As His Majesty said in the Speech from the Throne, in all of our actions, the government will be guided by a new fiscal discipline: spend less so people can invest more. We will balance the government's operating budget over the next three years by cutting waste, capping the public service, ending duplication and deploying technology to improve public sector productivity.”
“We can deliver these tax savings quickly to Canadians because, when our middle-class tax cut was announced, the Canada Revenue Agency updated its source deduction tables for the July to December 2025 period so that employers and payroll administrators can reduce tax withholdings starting July 1. We will also eliminate the GST for first-time homebuyers on new homes up to $1 million, which will save them up to $50,000. We will cut the GST for first-time homebuyers on new homes between $1 million and $1.5 million. This will result in a significant increase in the already substantial federal tax support available to first-time homebuyers through programs such as the tax-free first home savings account, the home buyers' plan, the registered retirement savings plan and the first-time homebuyers' tax credit.”
“This bill would also reduce the cost of living so that Canadians, including Quebeckers, can keep more of their paycheques to spend on what matters most to them. It includes a middle-class tax cut effective July 1, tax relief for close to 22 million individuals in Canada and $840 in savings per year for two-income families. As we have also clearly stated, this cut will primarily benefit the hard-working Canadians who need it the most. (1535) The bulk of the relief would go to people in the two lowest tax brackets, those earning less than $114,750 in 2025. Within this group of working Canadians, nearly half of the tax savings would go to those in the lowest tax bracket, those earning $57,375 or less in 2025.”
“The review will look at opportunities to strengthen industrial carbon markets to provide the necessary incentives for major industry-wide decarbonization projects, while creating jobs and spurring investments in the technologies that will shape the clean economies of tomorrow. Thanks to the elimination of the federal fuel charge effective April 1, 2025, eligible Canadians received a final Canada carbon rebate payment on April 22. The government decided to make this final carbon rebate payment to eligible households in April since Canadian families in the provinces subject to the federal fuel charge, especially low-income families, were counting on the April rebate. Last week, we introduced Bill C‑4 , which would officially remove consumer carbon pricing from Canadian law once it is repealed.”
“The changes would ensure that industrial pricing systems continue to maximize emissions reductions and encourage the transition to low-carbon technology, while protecting industry against competitiveness and carbon leakage impacts. By improving its emissions performance, Canadian industry will become more efficient and maintain its competitive edge as Canada works to diversify its trade relationships and deepen its market access, particularly in jurisdictions that, like the European Union, increasingly value low-emissions goods. The goal of the benchmark criteria would continue to be that systems are similarly stringent, fair and effective.”
“A price on pollution for major emitters will continue to be a pillar of Canada's plan to build a prosperous net-zero economy and make progress on climate objectives. The government intends to refocus federal carbon pollution pricing standards on ensuring that carbon pricing systems are in place across the country on a broad range of greenhouse gas emissions from industry. It will reinforce Canada's approach to carbon pricing for industry to ensure its continued effectiveness. The federal government intends to work with the provinces, including Quebec, the territories, indigenous peoples and stakeholders on changes to the minimum national stringency standards for carbon pollution pricing, known as the federal “benchmark” criteria.”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to take this opportunity to thank the people of my riding, Beauport—Limoilou. I want to mention that I will be sharing my time with my colleague, the member for Rivière-des-Mille-Îles . I am pleased to take part in today's debate and to reiterate the immediate priorities of our government to make life more affordable for all Canadians, including Quebeckers. The Canada carbon rebate was implemented to return the majority of direct proceeds from the federal fuel charge to residents of provinces where it applied. It did not apply in Quebec. The emissions reduction plan contains a complete suite of mitigation measures, strategies and investments, including policies that complement carbon pricing.”
“Mr. Speaker, my colleague's question is important, because there are two subjects that came up over and over when I went door to door during the election campaign: the cost of living and housing. The measures that have been taken are just the beginning. We need to move forward. The current government is working fast to implement measures and actions, and we need to continue in that vein. This is a simple yet extremely ambitious plan that will lower the cost of housing and improve access for our families.”
“Mr. Speaker, Julie Vignola did indeed do exemplary work in the riding. We will continue that work. There are currently 369 social housing units under construction in my riding. We will make sure that they are completed. We are working on reducing the cost of living, which was one of the most important issues raised when I went door to door. With the tax cut and the dental care plan, we are moving in the right direction. The government's ambitious plan to accelerate construction in order to reduce the cost of housing will help us get there.”
“Mr. Speaker, our current leader has a background in economics, and he is preparing a responsible budget for the fall. It is current practice to take the time to listen to everyone and then to table a budget a few months later. Yesterday, he was with the premiers, hearing what they had to say prior to tabling a budget and learning about their needs in terms of creating an energy corridor. To make the right decisions, informed decisions for the future of our country, it is responsible and wise to wait for the fall before tabling a budget.”
“We have the opportunity to remove barriers to internal trade and labour mobility, which cost Canada as much as $200 billion each year, and the opportunity to create a major energy corridor and become an energy superpower. Let us seize every opportunity to make our country a G7 economic leader. The people in my riding of Beauport—Limoilou are proud of this and intend to work on helping our country flourish and building a strong and united Canada. In closing, I am proud of my professional career, proud of the values that make me who I am today, proud of our government's ambitious vision for its citizens and proud to be here with all of my colleagues to build the strong and united Canada of tomorrow. The true north is indeed strong and free.”
“I strongly believe that the Quebec City region has a major role to play in Canada's future. For millennia, my region has been a dynamic and essential trade hub. Quebec has always been and will always be the gateway to America. Having come to realize that our U.S.-centric supply chains are less secure than we thought, we are going to diversify our economy. Canada will increasingly look to Europe for its supply chains. My region was a builder yesterday and continues to be a builder today. It has always been a driver of prosperity for this country in the past, and that will not change. In Mandarin, the word “crisis” consists of two ideograms. The first one means “danger”. We have certainly felt that over the past few months with our neighbour to the south. The second is “opportunity”. We are entering a period of opportunity.”
“The government is also a key financial partner in Quebec City's strategic public transit project. The work will continue. The throne speech signals a new era of growth for Canadians. In my discussions with the people of Beauport—Limoilou, one thing that often came up was the idea that economic development projects should not be pitted against each other. It is not either-or. We can build by saying “and” instead. The same is true for the environment. The greatest challenge of our generation is to build a sustainable economy, an economy that respects our planet. Some would have us believe that we must choose between economic development and environmental protection. We can do both. There is no point in dividing people. We should work together to build for the long term.”
“I am thinking in particular of the tax cut, which will put money directly into the pockets of the middle class. It will allow a couple to save over $800 and will benefit more than 22 million Canadian citizens. That is not to mention the popular existing programs that will be maintained and enhanced, such as child care, pharmacare and, of course, dental care. (1110) With respect to economic development, the Quebec City region has been at the heart of the government's strategy for years. Thanks in particular to the work of my colleagues from Québec Centre and Louis‑Hébert , the Davie shipyard's future is secure. The Quebec bridge, a critical link and vital artery for Quebec City, is now owned by a government that sees its restoration as a priority.”
“The throne speech we heard last week gives me confidence that the Quebec City region will not only make it through this period of uncertainty, but will emerge stronger than ever. The government will quickly address an issue that is a huge problem in Beauport—Limoilou: the housing crisis. The plan is simple yet highly ambitious. The government is going to launch a massive homebuilding project in order to lower prices. The vast majority of first-time homebuyers will also save up to $50,000 in GST on homes at or under $1 million. That will help young people get onto the property ladder. Earlier, I quoted this phrase from the throne speech: “the economy is only truly strong when it serves everyone”. That is why I am proud of the concrete measures our government has announced to directly improve people's lives.”
“I took the helm of Quebec City's chamber of commerce and industry during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many business owners in the region did not know what lay ahead for their businesses. I know the value of things. That is why I was so deeply moved by the throne speech. For me, the most important words in that speech were these: “the economy is only truly strong when it serves everyone”. In short, if we want to create economic value in a lasting way, we must do so in a way that respects our deeply held values. We also need to make sure no one is left behind. In short, this throne speech, which I have read, is a government road map that aligns perfectly with my personal values and with my ambitions for the Quebec City region. We need to invest, not just spend.”
“At the age of 20, I became a father for the first time. I was plunged into a life full of challenges that I was not yet ready to face. At the banks, where I worked for two decades, I was lucky enough to be in a position to help people. I could help families, like my parents' family, become homeowners. Later, I had the opportunity to help entrepreneurs fulfill their dreams and create prosperity in our community. I fully understand the impact that uncertain times like these can have on the people in our communities. I helped families who could no longer afford their mortgages. I helped business owners who felt they were at the end of their rope and were just days away from filing for bankruptcy.”
“I also wish to thank Mélanie, my partner in life, for her support. It is thanks to her that I am able to undertake this extraordinary commitment and embark on this amazing adventure. I also want to acknowledge the people for whom I am here today: my four children, Christopher, Léa, Tristan-Olivier and Emma-Rose, and my two grandchildren, Jayden and Mason. The reason I ran for Parliament was to work to build a more prosperous Canada for them. I love them all very much. I am the youngest of seven children raised on a dairy farm in a small village called Notre‑Dame‑du‑Lac in the Bas-Saint-Laurent region. I spent my childhood working on the farm, helping my father and siblings with the milking. Later, as a teenager, I followed my brothers into the bush, to work as a lumberjack until I was 25 years old.”
“Mr. Speaker, I congratulate you on your appointment. I want to mention that I will be sharing my time with the member for Hull—Aylmer . I also want to congratulate all members of the House on winning their seats. I am here today to support the Speech from the Throne. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the voters of Beauport—Limoilou for doing me the honour of choosing me as their member of Parliament. I will do everything in my power to live up to their trust. Next, I want to thank all the volunteers who believed in me and in my election campaign. We certainly did not have a head start, but we took the time to talk to the people. I want to thank Jacques and Louis-Philippe. I want to thank my family and especially my parents, Huguette and Paul-Émile, who instilled their values in me and made me the man that I am.”
“Mr. Speaker, at the beginning of her speech, my colleague talked a lot about government spending. A by-election is about to be called in a Conservative Party riding, which will cost taxpayers over $1.5 million. Does the member think that is a necessary expense or not?”
“Mr. Speaker, congratulations on your election. This is my first time rising in the House as the member for Beauport—Limoilou, and I thank my constituents for putting their trust in me. Last month, my constituents called for change that will put more money back in their pockets. Can the minister explain what this government will do to make life more affordable for Quebeckers and Canadians?”