Claude Guay
LaSalle—Émard—Verdun, Quebec · Liberal · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, our colleagues have short memories, and I am not convinced they read the news. They seem to have forgotten that we announced the Contrecoeur expansion of the port of Montreal, which will create 8,000 direct and indirect jobs and attract $1.2 billion in investment.”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for raising that point. It is unacceptable that these documents were not provided in French. We agree that Quebeckers must be able to understand and participate in discussions on projects that could affect their communities.”
“Mr. Speaker, we are spending less to invest more. We are maintaining our presence in every single province and remain the largest agricultural researcher in the country.”
“Mr. Speaker, FCC is an independent Crown corporation and operates at arm's length. With that said, what I can say is that farmers and agriculture stakeholders around the country appreciate the good work that is done by FCC.”
“Mr. Speaker, the Bloc Québécois is only capable of saying no, and it certainly cannot walk and chew gum at the same time. We can fight climate change while protecting our economy and developing our natural resources. That is what we are doing here in Canada, and we are doing so responsibly.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canadians want us to build a stronger, more independent and more resilient economy in partnership with the provinces, territories and indigenous peoples. The Conservatives are ignoring everything going on around the world and in geopolitics. They are disparaging Canada. We will continue to build Canada strong.”
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“[ English ] These concrete actions help support youth employment, reduce inequalities and build a stronger community. [ Translation ] I thank all the partners and volunteers for their dedication. I wish them a great school year.”
“Mr. Speaker, a few weeks into the school year, many families in LaSalle—Émard—Verdun have been able to get off on the right foot thanks to a great outpouring of solidarity. With support from a number of community organizations, including the Centre d'aide à la réussite et au développement, or CARD, Mission Bon Accueil, and Bienvenue à l'immigrant, we have handed out several hundred backpacks full of school supplies to children in the riding. I want to extend special thanks to Claudia Olga Kadima, Samuel Watts and Henriette Mvondo and their respective organizations for their outstanding commitment. I also had the pleasure of awarding 74 certificates to young people from my riding who took part in the Canada summer jobs program.”
“Mr. Speaker, as we approach the end of the parliamentary session and we head into summer, I invite all Canadians to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Verdun. Our community is offering exceptional programming, including exhibitions, workshops and outdoor concerts with artists such as Clay and Friends and Orchestre Métropolitain. Each event reflects the vibrant spirit of Verdun. I also have the great pleasure of announcing that, in August, our constituency office will be moving to Wellington Street, which was recently voted the coolest street in the world by Timeout magazine and which becomes a pedestrian-only street during the summer. In closing, I want to thank Marie‑Andrée Mauger, mayor of Verdun, who is ending 12 years of public service in our community. Her commitment will leave a green, compassionate and lasting legacy back home.”
“Mr. Chair, the third question I have for the minister concerns what we can do to advance critical minerals projects. Getting new mines approved in Canada takes far too long. This inefficiency hinders critical mineral development. We know that we are working on a new, more efficient process for issuing mining permits. Can the minister give us more details on what the new Government of Canada plans to do to advance critical minerals projects?”
“Mr. Chair, throughout the debate, the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources has been clear that indigenous people must be consulted when it comes to energy projects, as well as projects of national significance. Can the minister explain how these estimates help advance reconciliation and support indigenous communities' participating in these energy projects and projects of national significance?”
“Mr. Chair, the development of critical minerals will be crucial to the Canadian economy. The entire world is searching for them, especially given the uncertainty surrounding the global supply. Considering the trade war with the United States, implementing critical mineral projects will increase our resilience and strengthen our sovereignty. Can the minister talk about the importance of critical minerals and the work the Government of Canada is proposing to accelerate their development?”
“This new legislation will speed up the implementation of major strategic projects, simplify the automation process and remove the internal trade barriers that are hindering our businesses and workers. It will reduce the time taken to review major projects from five years to two years, while respecting our duty to consult and to protect the environment. It will help us open more mines—”
“[ English ] Let us not forget the foundation beneath it all, literally. These estimates include $4.8 million to support geoscience research and data initiatives. From geomapping in the north to exploration support in partnership with provinces and indigenous governments, this work would help us access the minerals we need to power our future. In just the past few days, more than 70 projects have been supported through this work, fuelling discoveries, advancing exploration and de-risking investment. These are quiet programs, but they are critical elements of our nation-building tool box, and we are using them. (2100) [ Translation ] This is all part of a broader economic plan, one that includes the prospective one Canadian economy act, which was introduced last week.”
“That is why we propose to allocate $10.34 million for the critical minerals technology and innovation strategy so that Canada can lead the world not only in terms of what it mines, but how it mines. Already, Canadian researchers are making breakthroughs in cleaner processing, higher-performance battery materials, and recycling technologies that reduce waste and pollution. This funding will allow us to speed up the lab-to-mine and patent-to-product transition. That means more Canadian intellectual property, more domestic innovation and more jobs, not just in mining but also in engineering, clean technology and advanced manufacturing. That is how we will strengthen our position in the global value chain. That is how we will stop exporting raw potential and start selling finished products.”
“The world is not asking just for more minerals; it is asking for better minerals that are responsibly sourced, ethically managed and environmentally sound. [ Translation ] This initiative allows Canada to be a leader, rather than a follower, in the development of global environmental, social and governance, or ESG, standards. It allows us to build resilient and transparent supply chains with our allies in the Americas, Europe and the Indo-Pacific. It guarantees Canada a seat at the table, not just as a producer but also as a trusted partner in the global clean economy. That is how we build confidence in Canadian minerals. That is how we attract investment. That is how we develop markets where Canadian values and products can thrive. The future belongs to innovators.”
“In Labrador, in Sudbury, in the Athabasca Basin, in the north of Quebec and across the Northwest Territories, these investments would make the difference between resource potential and becoming an economic powerhouse. [ Translation ] We have already announced a fund of over $300 million for 31 projects across the country, including a number led by indigenous communities. This fund is not just for resource extraction. It seeks to connect those resources to the right partners in order to generate prosperity for Canadians through infrastructure, good jobs and sustainable community development. [ English ] However, building is not enough. We must look ahead and ask how Canada will compete and win in the decades to come. That is why these estimates invest $5.77 million in the critical minerals global partnership initiative.”
“It is time to develop the wealth beneath our feet in a responsible, sustainable way, with the full co-operation of indigenous communities and in accordance with the ethical standards and environmental protections we are so proud of. It is time to sell our products not only to those who share our borders, but also to those who share our values. (2055) [ English ] This is why we are making real, tangible investments, starting with the critical minerals infrastructure fund. These main estimates propose $141.37 million to build the roads, power lines and transport links that would unlock our mineral wealth and connect it to the world.”
“In fact, China controls over 75% of global production and refining for graphite, cobalt and rare earth elements. In addition, across all six core minerals, China accounts for roughly two-thirds of the world's processing and refining capacity. These are not just statistics; these are warning signs. They are strategic vulnerabilities for Canada and for allies around the world. [ Translation ] When Canada and its allies are forced to choose between energy security and ethical procurement, that is a problem. When Canadian manufacturers cannot access the materials they need without looking abroad, that is a problem.”
“Having mineral wealth is not the same as building and progressing. [ English ] We cannot mine what we have not mapped; we cannot deliver to our allies what we cannot move, and we cannot lead the world if we are content to stand on the sidelines while opportunity passes us. This is what the 2025-26 main estimates are about. They are not just a financial exercise. They are part of our national agenda to build, to trade and to lead. Worldwide, China holds a dominant position in the production and refining of six core critical minerals: lithium, graphite, cobalt, nickel, copper and rare earth elements. These are the building blocks of clean technology, modern manufacturing and advanced defence systems, and right now, too much of that supply chain depends on one single country.”
“At the heart of this global race are materials that do not immediately spring to mind for most Canadians. Their importance will shape the future of our economy, our climate and our sovereignty. I am talking about critical minerals such as lithium, nickel, copper, graphite, cobalt and rare earth minerals. They are essential for the electric vehicles we drive, for the solar panels on our roofs, for the semiconductors that power our devices, for the military technology that keeps us safe and for the batteries that support our energy transition. Canada, the country that we are privileged to serve in the House, is one of the most richly endowed countries on earth. We are literally sitting on the solution that the entire world is rushing to find, secure and control. However, being rich in resources is not enough.”
“Mr. Chair, I rise today to speak to the main estimates at a pivotal moment in Canadian history. As a country, we have been at this crossroads before, at times that required more than political calculations, at times that called on us to build boldly together. We answered that call after the Second World War. We responded by connecting this vast country through the Trans-Canada Highway. Today, we are being called upon again because, once again, the world has changed. We are entering an era of urgency, a global race for resources, resilience and strategic advantages. We need to redefine ourselves in a world where many certainties are now in flux, where we can no longer take for granted the systems, organizations and partners we once relied on.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is with humility and gratitude that I rise today for the very first time in this honourable House of Commons. I thank the people of LaSalle—Émard—Verdun for putting their trust in me. It is a great honour for me. I also want to thank my wife, Carol Anne, my team, our volunteers and my predecessors, the Right Hon. Paul Martin and the Hon. David Lametti, for their help and support. Our community is a wonderful kaleidoscope that represents the best of Canada. Every day, I see acts of courage, generosity and resilience. Whether it is young people who are getting involved at school, seniors who are sharing their wisdom, newcomers who are building their future among us or small businesses like those on Monk and Champlain boulevards and Wellington Street in Verdun—”