Dominique O'Rourke
Guelph, Ontario · Liberal · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, first, I just want to celebrate the Guelph & District Multicultural Festival, which celebrated its 40th anniversary this weekend. I congratulate Anu Saxena, their chair, and also Cinthuja Leon, who is their executive director. It was another amazing weekend.”
“Mr. Speaker, the previous question was about what the rush is in terms of passing this legislation. I want to ask my hon. colleague this: When you are out in the community, the amazing Spadina—Harbourfront, are you hearing from people that this is a housing crisis and an emergency, and that they want us to move quickly during construction…”
“Mr. Speaker, let us honour the life and legacy of James Ross Hurley, the founding director of the parliamentary internship programme. Created in 1969 by Wellington MP Alf Hales, the program flourished under James Hurley's leadership as a unique, non-partisan opportunity for university graduates to experience parliamentary democracy.”
“Mr. Speaker, Canada has one of the strongest democracies in the world, but we can never take that for granted. We need to protect the independence of our judiciary. We need a strong parliamentary system, and we need strong journalism. Obviously we can never take our democracy for granted. We need to strengthen those institutions.”
“(1410) [ English ] James Hurley devoted his life to public service as a Privy Council Office constitutional adviser to six prime ministers, a beloved mentor and a professor of political science at the University of Ottawa. In March 2025, he left us.”
“Since its launch, Build Canada Homes has moved quickly to get housing projects off the ground. The Government of Canada has identified public lands that can be converted into housing. We have partnered with local governments to cut red tape and fast-track approvals.”
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“Prevention must be the goal, through education, early intervention and addressing root causes, including gender inequality, racism and discrimination. I thank Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis, support teams at the University of Guelph and Guelph General Hospital, Victim Services Guelph, Guelph Police Service, and groups like them across Canada. Ending sexual violence is not just their work. It must be all of ours and it must be done every day.”
“Mr. Speaker, May is Sexual Violence Prevention Month in Ontario. Every day, news stories show how widespread and devastating intimate partner and sexual violence is across Canada. These are not isolated incidents. They are not private matters. They are part of a systemic crisis with real human and social costs. In Canada, a recent report shows that sexual violence costs nearly $15 billion every year in lost wages, counselling, investigation, courts and more. About one in three police-reported violent incidents involves IPV, and we know that this is the tip of the iceberg. Bill C-16 would expand protections, increase access and help address systemic vulnerability, but cops, courts and counselling are all after the fact.”
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present a petition on behalf of citizens and residents of Canada concerning the global debt crisis and its impact on development and climate action. The petitioners note that many lower-income countries are spending more on debt repayments than on a number of other priorities. Therefore, the petitioners call on the Government of Canada to review and cancel unsustainable bilateral debts, to advocate for global financial reform and a United Nations framework on sovereign debt, and to increase the grants-based portion of Canada's climate finance, particularly for adaptation, loss and damage.”
“Madam Speaker, economic growth is truly transformational only when everyone has the chance to participate in and benefit from it. The spring economic update will empower workers through the historic team Canada strong program, Canada's largest-ever investment in workers, by making education more affordable and by advancing the labour mobility deduction. Our government has also made permanent the employee ownership trust tax exemption. The former MP for Guelph, Lloyd Longfield, and I are huge advocates. Can the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Finance please explain how this strengthens the economy for all?”
“As Guelph approaches its bicentennial, I invite members and all Canadians to gather in Guelph to celebrate a city that values words and imagination; is home to celebrated authors; is the birthplace of Lieutenant-Colonel John McCrae, author of In Flanders Fields ; and is the birthplace of two Nobel laureates. Guelph is a cornerstone of Ontario agriculture and a leader in advanced manufacturing. I welcome all to gather in Guelph to celebrate this remarkable city. I wish a happy birthday to the royal city.”
“Mr. Speaker, today the city of Guelph marks its 199th anniversary, nearly two centuries shaped by people who care deeply about learning, community, place and one another. Situated on Treaty No. 3 lands held by the Mississaugas of the Credit, home to the Haudenosaunee and the Attawandaron, Guelph brings together nature and ideas, from the University of Guelph Arboretum to the Speed and Eramosa rivers, and to a historic downtown rich in arts, culture and local business. Its contributions to the arts, culture, science, innovation and business resonate nationally and globally.”
“Protecting soil is good environmental, agricultural and economic policy. The University of Guelph's Ontario Agricultural College is ranked number one in Canada, anchoring world-leading soil and agri-food research, and it brings together researchers, farmers and industry. We can do this nationally with a framework to scale. The Minister of Agriculture has already announced his commitment, and I invite all members to support passage of this very important bill. I wish everyone a happy Earth Day. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)”
“moved for leave to introduce Bill S-230, An Act respecting the development of a national strategy for soil health protection, conservation and enhancement . Bill S-230. Introduction and first reading She said: Mr. Speaker, happy Earth Day. What a fitting day to introduce Senator Robert Black's Bill S-230 , an act respecting the development of a national strategy for soil health protection, conservation and enhancement. This important bill would recognize soil as a national strategic asset. At its core, it calls for a national strategy on soil health, one that would bring together research, farmers, industry, indigenous knowledge and governments across the country. It calls for data collection and the appointment of a national soil health advocate. The urgency is real. Soil is the foundation, literally, of food, feed and fuel.”
“Mr. Speaker, my dad grew up in my hon. colleague's riding. I thank the member for being a tireless defender and an advocate for action on anti-Semitism. It is shocking to me that in a city like Guelph, members of the Jewish community are worried about their safety. They are looking for leadership. They are looking to us to do something. I ask my colleague, with regard to the protection of access to community centres and synagogues, to outline how this would also apply to other places of worship. Why are we responding in this moment? How would it apply more broadly to protect people and their faith?”
“Mr. Speaker, given that my hon. colleague is the former finance minister for the province of Quebec, I would like to ask him whether eliminating the GST on vehicles manufactured in Canada could increase the deficit. I would also like him to comment on the government's plan for the automotive sector and on the importance of investing in that industry, both now and in the future.”
“Mr. Speaker, if the Government of Canada had a magic wand for tariff-free access to the United States, the Conservatives would oppose it. We can do more than one thing at a time. We can fight for the auto sector and the canola sector and the fisheries sector. That is what being in government is. It is all of it. We cannot have a myopic plan that does not consult anybody and will not yield any results.”
“Mr. Speaker, I have two things. One is that there are ongoing negotiations with Washington regarding unjustified, illegal tariffs. That is number one. Number two is that this uncertainty caused by the American tariffs has put a hold on things like the Honda plant. It has created uncertainty, so a number of automakers are waiting to see. That is a private sector decision. What is the opposition's plan to get tariff-free access? Let me read what they want to do. They want to bring back the Chinese tariffs. What are you going to tell your canola farmers and the fishers? The Conservatives have no skills to negotiate a deal. They would push us to accept a bad deal, and we are not going to do that.”
“Mr. Speaker, $3 billion in the strategic response fund, $1.5 billion for infrastructure to create certainty in electrification and $1 billion for tariff relief is not waiting it out. Supports for workers and retraining to help auto plants retool and auto parts manufacturers keep people on the shop floor is not waiting it out. I have confidence in our ambassadors and our negotiating teams. We all want zero tariffs on vehicles.”
“What they are proposing risks weakening Canada's position in CUSMA negotiations, and the GST proposal could be seen as a non-tariff barrier. The CPC plans to end EV subsidies and rejects the electrification incentives. It undercuts Canada and the fastest-growing segment of global auto manufacturing. Why would the House adopt a half-baked plan when Global Automakers of Canada, Unifor and the Canadian Automobile Dealers Association, which all endorsed the government's plan a month ago, were not even consulted? The Conservatives' plan ignores the best auto workers in the world. They have no plan to support the industry, and they are neglecting the industry's future. Canada's new government has a plan. It is thorough and forward-looking. That is what I am going to support.”
“When we look at what is happening in the United States, Tesla opened its first publicly accessible Megacharger station for customers of the Tesla Semi. There has been massive infrastructure spending because the future is electric. Increasingly, heavy mining vehicles are electrified with regenerative braking for when they are going back down into the mine. This Conservative plan risks blocking the future growth of the EV sector. It actively gets in the way. Unifor warns us that the CPC proposal could prevent future growth. It does not address competitive pressures from the U.S. or the EU and has no long-term, and certainly not an integrated, electrification strategy. Let us be kind. The members opposite have never negotiated anything close to this, so how could they know?”
“Would they shut down the battery plant in Windsor that is employing 1,100 workers, just as it starts to mass produce, or Canada's largest EV battery facility in St. Thomas, which is expected to have 3,000 jobs? Looking at Toyota's sales results for February, electrified sales represented 55.9% of overall sales. Why is this? It is because consumers like the convenience of being able to charge at home. It is also a lot less expensive, and it is a great ride. If we look back at Toyota's record sales in 2025, electrified vehicles continued to lead the way for Toyota Canada in 2025, representing a 5.4% year-over-year increase and 49.7% of all 2025 sales. It is where the market is going, undeniably. It is not just on these passenger vehicles.”
“It is not surprising, because in March, the Leader of the Opposition appeared on a podcast, where he described the policy of net zero as a “pretext.” He said, “It's all B.S.” He called it a “net-zero fraud” that takes “away the opportunities of the people who actually do the work.” The narrative is pretty clear. A cursory understanding of science and what is happening in the world would tell members otherwise on climate change and EVs. I worked for 10 years for an insurance company. Global reinsurers believe in climate change. They are hardly the woke left. They see the frequency and severity, and they know we need to act. The opposition members hate EVs so much that they would sacrifice the future of the automotive industry.”
“The market is actually leading here. If we look at the United States, 20% of all luxury vehicles that are sold are EVs. Why is this? It is because the technology is great. People love them. The adoption will then take place and that technology is going to move to lower-priced vehicles. Like most trends, we will see adoption. Since the House resumed in September, the Conservatives have asked for a take-note debate on the auto sector, brought two motions to the industry committee and now proposed this sad plan. What is consistent throughout all of these proposals is the lack of consultation, for one, and their attack on EVs.”
“(1240) The Conservatives are not offering a realistic path to two million vehicles per year. Where did that number even come from? They offer no plans for supporting that new production, and they have no legal or operational explanation for their tariff-free models or how they would magically get there, when they have zero experience negotiating something like that in a context like this. The opposition members have no vision for batteries, critical minerals or the future of assembly. They ignore everything that actually builds the vehicles today. We are looking at battery supply chains, critical minerals and EV platforms. The Conservatives have no plan for autonomous systems or next-generation manufacturing. They are ignoring global shifts in EV and moderate emissions standards. Globally, 20% of all vehicles are EVs.”
“Today, the industry is totally different.” He then said, “That was because they didn’t consult with us, the people that are working on this every day. So, we [are] frustrated with that.” I am frustrated with that too. We have been hearing the Conservatives talk down the auto sector and talk about this decade of decline for the last couple of hours, but we have the best auto workers in the world. The proof is that in April 2024, Honda announced a $15-billion investment in an EV plant in Alliston, and they are ready to go. We know that Toyota Cambridge is the most awarded plant for quality in the world. Guess what. They had record sales in 2025. I do not know where opposition members are getting their information, but they are talking down an important sector when it needs our support. It needs stability, and it needs unity.”
“I am going to read for the House remarks made by John D'Agnolo, Unifor Local 200 president and auto council chair: “The problem is that he [being the Leader of the Opposition] went ahead and did not consult with Unifor, and it was very, very frustrating to see the things that he put in place knowing we would be in big trouble”. He also said, “He didn’t recognize engines. There’s a prime example. He didn’t recognize imports. He didn’t recognize exports of parts that we make, which is discouraging.” He continued, “He didn’t recognize the fact that the one-for-one would mean they wouldn’t need to put a product in Brampton. They wouldn’t need to build a product in Ingersoll, and they wouldn’t need a third shift at Stellantis.” He went on to say, “What it looks like is he reflected from 1965...and he tried to put details in there....”
“It is like waiting by the phone for an unreliable boyfriend to call, and I think that we should be making other plans. Of course we want zero tariffs. That is hardly a novel idea. Do we want to preserve a highly integrated auto sector that has benefited both Canada and the U.S.? Absolutely, that is the goal. We can have contingency plans and a forward-looking strategy that looks at global trends such as electrification. Our auto sector cannot depend on the political stripe of our neighbours. That is not smart and it is not sustainable in every sense of the word. The workers have rejected this proposal, and they have been ignored.”
“This is also a proposal that arrives late and looks backwards. The plan is not just out of date; it did not show up in time. Our strategy, released February 5, provides $3 billion in strategic response to help our fabulous automakers weather these unjustified illegal tariffs. There is $1 billion for regional tariff relief. I know of businesses in Guelph, parts manufacturers, that have needed this to help keep their shop floors busy and to position for the future. The federal government's plan supports workers, which is something that is completely absent from the proposal of the members opposite. This proposal, so-called, waits for Washington instead of Canada to lead. A real strategy leads. This proposal waits for permission and is looking backwards.”
“This is important because auto workers and the industry need us to really be thinking these things through, but we have a robust plan, and this opposition motion is just not it. This ill-conceived proposal is centred on a new, tariff-free auto pact that is modelled after a 1965 version. The plan is so old, it predates seat belts and the Canadian vehicle safety standard, and only major North American automakers dominated the production at the time. Now they make up less than 30% of domestic production, and they are the only ones endorsing this proposal. The reality today is that we have a globalized multi-manufacturer environment that operates very differently. The reality is that this motion does not take into account the entire ecosystem of parts or critical minerals or dealerships and what that means.”
“Mr. Speaker, we just cannot run the 2026 auto sector with a 1965 rule book, unless the plan is to drive Canada straight into the past. The members opposite are saying we need a plan. On February 5, the new government presented a plan in consultation with all of the industry associations and workers. It was received with universal acclaim. This is not the first time the Conservatives have come together with a hodgepodge number of different sentences that may or may not make sense. On February 12, the hon. member for Battle River—Crowfoot had a CPC opposition motion with an opposition strategy. At the industry committee, twice now, we have had studies on the auto industry.”
“Mr. Speaker, it puzzles me that the member from Windsor would not be celebrating that federal government investments in the NextStar plant mean 1,100 jobs in his riding. The people at Stellantis are excited to add a third shift. The people are looking to government to support them in this difficult period with a challenging trading partner. I am hearing a lot of “throwing up our hands” on the other side of the House, but the proof is that these investments have worked in the past.”
“Mr. Speaker, what is before the House today is a rather myopic look at a few things that could happen in the auto sector, whereas the Liberal government's plan is comprehensive. I wonder if my colleague would talk about how the government's automobile strategy looks at the full supply chain and what the benefits are for Canada, looking at things from critical minerals to the dealership.”
“Mr. Speaker, I rise to present a petition on behalf of citizens and residents of Canada concerning the start-up visa program. The petitioners are concerned that in recent years, start-up visa applicants have faced extensive and unpredictable processing delays, often lasting several years, despite having undergone rigorous vetting by designated organizations. Therefore, the petitioners call upon the Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship to increase annual permanent residence admissions under the start-up visa program; allocate additional resources to reduce application backlogs; adopt a risk-based triage system to fast-track low-risk applicants; and resume issuing a limited number of work permits to essential founders so that they can build early business traction while their applications are being processed.”
“I wonder if the member opposite knows that if we cut development charges, and he voted against supporting infrastructure, that is a direct download of the cost of infrastructure to the property taxpayer.”
“Mr. Speaker, allow me first to correct an error I made in my remarks earlier. Tuesday is my 25th wedding anniversary, not my 20th, and my husband let me know immediately when I left the chamber. I wish a happy anniversary to Mike. To the member opposite, we agree that we need to see housing prices come down. We have had a housing bubble since the 1980s, so when we are seeing homes selling under their asking price when we increase the supply, that is the housing bubble starting to deflate. When we increase housing, we create competition, both with new homes and the ones for resale. I am just curious about development charges. I was a city councillor for six years.”
“While the national school nutrition program helps with the keep kids fed at school program, our community fills in the gaps and supports the keep kids fed at home program, which provides nutritious snacks for vulnerable kids during weekends and holidays. The return on investment, whether it is social, educational or economic, is significant when every child has the food they need to thrive. [ Translation ] Our children definitely deserve it.”
“Mr. Speaker, it was heartwarming to see the Children's Foundation of Guelph and Wellington's keep kids fed programs in action last week. I met parent volunteers and U of G nutrition students who were preparing the snacks. I spoke with a school administrator and Children's Foundation leaders. Together with volunteers and donors, they ensure every child has reliable access to nutritious food every day, with dignity and without barriers. We had a great conversation about how federal policy directly shapes the well-being of children in my riding through initiatives like the national school nutrition program and the upcoming groceries and essentials benefit, which will help more than 18,000 people in the riding of Guelph.”
“Mr. Speaker, the City of Guelph is a participant in the housing accelerator fund from the previous government. That funding has allowed all kinds of zoning reform. We have removed exclusionary zoning. We have seed money for accessory dwelling units. We have seed money for affordable housing projects. That first step, that first foray of working directly, has been extremely important. This next step is a complete game-changer. I want to congratulate all the affordable housing providers in Guelph, which have done an amazing job of building affordable housing with wraparound services over the past four years.”
“Mr. Speaker, I completely agree that the government needs to support sectors put at risk by unfair U.S. tariffs. Liquidity programs exist for the lumber, steel and automotive sectors. Although this issue is truly important, it falls outside the scope of this bill, which only seeks to create a Build Canada Homes Crown corporation. Nevertheless, the issue is indeed important and yes, we need to use Canadian lumber.”
“Mr. Speaker, as a city councillor for many years, I saw the municipality streamline its processes. The member is quite right. The private sector is building homes, but for 30 years, communities have expected provinces or the federal government to build non-market affordable housing. Guess what: The private sector does not build that kind of stuff. Why? It is because it has a profit imperative. Look, I have an economics degree. The private sector wants to maximize its profits. It wants to pay higher wages and all that stuff. It is all fine, but there is a gap. Build Canada Homes is going to fill that gap for true market affordability.”
“It will guarantee safe and affordable housing for every Canadian. [ English ] Everyone in Canada, no matter where they live across the country, should have access to affordable housing. A home is not merely shelter. It is security, stability and connection to community. We are facing a housing crisis, one that has been growing for decades. In response, the new government is adopting a new model, a new approach, new construction methods and new partnerships and collaborations to accelerate housing construction, restore housing affordability and reduce homelessness. Canadians need affordable housing now. This bill would help enable Build Canada Homes to continue to deliver on the federal government's promise to Canadians. It would provide a better, brighter future for homebuilding across our country.”
“It will be given the independence necessary to take risks and the operational autonomy it needs to focus on fulfilling its mandate, while remaining accountable to Canadians. Making Build Canada Homes a Crown corporation will give it the flexibility and legal and operational autonomy it needs to fulfill its mandate. At the same time, it will maintain a clear framework of accountability to Parliament. It will be able to exercise a broader range of powers than a special operating agency, and it will be able to hold assets, make investments and conduct complex financial transactions. This bill fulfills the commitment that the government made in budget 2025. It is a historic law that will help advance the mandate of Build Canada Homes, which is to build more housing more quickly and more affordably.”
“As a Crown corporation, Build Canada Homes would be overseen by a board of directors responsible for strategic direction, risk management and oversight of activities and performance. This would ensure alignment with Build Canada Homes' legislative mandate. A chairperson and CEO, both appointed by the Governor in Council, would provide leadership and ensure that the corporation's activities align with government priorities. The legislation, importantly, would provide Build Canada Homes with the independence to operate effectively, while ensuring clear lines of accountability to Parliament. (1010) [ Translation ] Once this legislation is passed and comes into force, Build Canada Homes will become a Crown corporation.”
“It has been a huge provider of services, funding, supports and, very importantly, land in the last few years, to help previous Guelph projects literally get off the ground. Land is so often the core of this issue, so this bill would also give the federal government the authority to transfer the land holdings and development experience of Canada Lands Company Limited to Build Canada Homes. This would streamline and consolidate federal tools to directly build affordable housing on public land for public good. Build Canada Homes and Canada Lands Company would continue to work together closely. They would continue to advance priority projects, including the direct-build sites, and ensure a smooth transition.”
“These are concrete results that show how this new approach is turning ambition into action. It is what can be achieved when speed, innovation and especially collaboration are prioritized. Housing advocates across the country are very excited. I met with housing proponents in Guelph just last week who are collaborating to submit a portfolio of projects. One is an affordable housing project for vulnerable families, and another is a multiresidential, permanent supportive housing project for seniors who are struggling with mental illness. These are not projects that the private sector would build. The private sector has a profit motive, which is fine, but the private sector in Guelph also has a big heart.”
“Every new home that is built will mean more demand for Canadian steel, lumber and aluminum, helping workers and businesses thrive. A broad increase in supply will have a downward pressure on prices on the market side of the housing continuum. These are some tangible results provided by Build Canada Homes already. (1005) In just a few months, Build Canada Homes has delivered measurable progress. Landmark agreements have been signed with many provinces and municipalities, and six federal land projects are advancing toward construction. Canada's housing crisis is being addressed. Do we wish it could happen overnight? Absolutely, we do. With new innovations, thousands of affordable homes are committed, and we should see shovels in the ground this year. Hundreds of projects are under review across the country, ready to break ground.”
“This will drive a steady demand for factory-built housing to speed up delivery, reduce costs and improve sustainability. The industry committee just completed a study on productivity and how Canada can boost it. Did members know that industries with the lowest productivity often include those that are highly labour-intensive, slow to adopt new technologies or composed mainly of small firms? Those are all characteristics of residential construction. In fact, in 2024, TD Bank identified construction as one of the lowest-performing sectors in terms of productivity and said it was at a 30-year low. The need is so great that we can boost productivity in homebuilding, and there will still be plenty of room for smaller builders.”
“This means prioritizing projects that use Canadian materials and strengthening domestic supply chains while creating jobs that pay well. This aligns extremely well with the government's significant investments in training for construction trades. By also prioritizing modern methods of construction, such as factory-built housing, Build Canada Homes will spark a more productive homebuilding industry. I have seen this first-hand. Guelph's Pacd Homes can flat-pack a home. People from the auto sector, one of the most productive sectors in the country, have figured out a way, with new materials, to assemble, in particular, ADUs or additional dwelling units. They can ship them. They can assemble them in four to six weeks if they have the zoning and the land. We are going to see more and more of these innovations right across the country.”
“Combining access to federal lands, development expertise and flexible financial tools under one roof, Build Canada Homes makes it simpler and faster to get big projects off the ground. With low-interest loans, equity investments, contributions and guarantees, Build Canada Homes can fund construction in an innovative way. It is designed to partner across the housing ecosystem. It works in partnership with non-profits, indigenous organizations, private developers and all orders of government. The federal government's investment in housing supports local jobs and local businesses, helping to grow Canada's economy everywhere. Build Canada Homes is also implementing the Government of Canada's buy Canadian policy.”
“Governments at all levels did not invest in community, affordable, social and supportive housing, believing incorrectly that the private sector would fill that gap, when that is not its mandate. Although we are beginning to see promising improvements in several cities across the country, it is clear that more needs to be done, and crucially that it be done differently. This is why we are taking a new approach. Since it was launched in September 2025, Build Canada Homes has made progress in scaling up the supply of affordable housing across Canada. It is driving a more productive and innovative homebuilding sector and acting as a catalyst for modern methods of construction.”
“The phenomenon is not new, but it is urgent. In 2010, the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives published a report entitled “Canada's Housing Bubble: An Accident Waiting to Happen”. The headline on the news release reads, “Housing bubble at precarious 30-year peak”. That was in 2010. Here we are 16 years later, and the challenge persists, through different political leadership and through different market conditions. There are many reasons for the complex challenges we face with Canada's housing system. Over the past 30 years, the Canadian building construction price index more than doubled, the cost of land and labour is rising, and through it all, the supply of homes simply did not keep pace with the growing demand for market housing.”
“Mr. Speaker, through you, I would like to wish my husband, Mike, a happy 20th anniversary on St. Patrick's Day. We are on this crazy ride together, and it has really been wonderful. As a former city councillor, I am very familiar with the development process and acutely aware of the housing crisis, so I really appreciate the opportunity not only to wish Mike a happy anniversary but also to talk about the importance of the Build Canada Homes act. This legislation establishes Build Canada Homes as a Crown corporation dedicated to building truly affordable homes in communities across the country. The bill is the next major step in strengthening the federal government's capacity to address Canada's housing crisis. The need is very clear. Across the country, far too many Canadians are struggling to find homes they can afford.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is a good day in the House of Commons when we all agree that we need to boost our trade and that we need to invest in infrastructure. However, I am really puzzled when I hear a member opposite talk about the importance of improving our ports, roads and railways and talking about the importance of infrastructure to drive down food prices, when the member opposite voted against a $5-billion trade diversification corridor fund that was in budget 2025, which was aimed specifically at new port infrastructure, railway upgrades and road and airport projects tied to trade flows. Time and time again, there are massive investments being made on this side of the House and members opposite vote against them.”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to thank my hon. colleague for all the work that he does to boost Canada's trade globally. Canada has a goal to increase our non-U.S. trading, to double it over 10 years. I just wondered if my hon. colleague would expound upon the importance of partnerships like this one.”
“Mr. Speaker, the mechanism for the EV rebate will be similar to what it was a few years ago. If someone goes to a dealership and purchases a vehicle, depending on the manufacturer's suggested retail price and if it fits the conditions, they will get that rebate. It goes into their pocket. We are seeing movement of all types through the auto sector. For a party that loves consumer choice, the EV rebate gives them that consumer choice.”