François-Philippe Champagne
Saint-Maurice—Champlain, Quebec · Liberal · Canada
“Mr. Speaker, during this final question period before the summer recess, I would have expected the Leader of the Opposition to thank the Prime Minister of Canada for the work he did at the G7 summit. We brought back 13 deals that will generate $5 billion.”
“Mr. Speaker, let me remind the leader that we will take no lessons from the Conservatives. He needs to be reminded. We have the second-fastest growing economy in the G7.”
“Mr. Speaker, as we come to the end of the session, we would expect the Leader of the Opposition to be a bit more cheerful because, in fact, there is good news. If he wants to look at results, Canada is the second-fastest growing economy in the G7. We have seen that investment in machinery and equipment is up.”
“Mr. Speaker, we hear the Conservatives talk against the economy. On this side of the House, we are proud. We are proud to have the most skilled workers in the world. We are proud to have an auto industry, a maritime industry, and an aerospace industry. We are proud to have critical minerals for the 21st century.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would like to begin by thanking the member for Hull—Aylmer for his question and for all his leadership. I am sure that my colleagues will agree with me. He is right. Last week, we unveiled the national food security strategy, because we know that food security is a top priority for Canadians.”
“Mr. Speaker, my colleague will be pleased to hear that the Canadian economy ranks second in the G7 in terms of growth. Not only are we seeing growth, but we are also seeing investment; Bombardier is a perfect example of that. Quebec's aerospace industry is thriving. We have always been there to defend our industries.”
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“Mr. Speaker, it feels good to get such a great question. Although words fail the opposition when it comes to celebrating our economy, our Prime Minister has announced a $70‑billion investment in Canada's economy made possible by the quality, experience and know-how of our workers. On this side of the House, we will always work to build a strong Canada and a strong economy because we understand what Canada has to offer. Let us celebrate Canada together.”
“Mr. Speaker, we will take no lessons from these guys, but Kevin Page, a former parliamentary budget officer, will give them some lessons. He said: We need to focus on economic growth. We need capital investment to boost innovation, improve our infrastructure and diversify trade. We live in dangerous times, and we must meet our NATO spending targets. I believe Parliament should approve the budget plan.... On this side of the House, we will fight for Canadians because every day is a good day to fight for Canadians.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is only Monday and look how excited they are. They know there is good news in the budget. That is what I see. There is enough good news to go to Regina, to go to Winnipeg and to go to Moose Jaw. The people in Winnipeg understand that we need to invest in infrastructure. The people in Moose Jaw understand that we need to invest in our military. The people in Regina understand that we need to invest in housing. Canadians understand that we need to invest in this country. On this side of this House, we will always fight for Canadians, because every day is a good day to fight for Canadians.”
“Bill C-15. Introduction and first reading moved that Bill C-15, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget tabled in Parliament on November 4, 2025 be now read the first time and printed. (Motions deemed adopted, bill read the first time and printed)”
“Mr. Speaker, members of the Bloc Québécois are a little late to this situation. They must have been busy yesterday voting against the budget and against projects in Quebec. Still, I have some news for them. We are already in contact with Arbec. We are already negotiating a line of credit. We are prepared to support them, to help them pivot. Instead of focusing on voting against projects in Quebec, the members of the Bloc Québécois should look at how they can support the government so we can move our country forward together.”
“Mr. Speaker, we will always be there for forestry workers. We have a fund specifically designed to help businesses. Yesterday, in a dramatic turn of events, the Bloc Québécois voted against projects in Quebec. The Bloc Québécois voted against the Port of Saguenay expansion, against the Port of Montreal expansion and against Exploramer and its shark pavilion. The Bloc Québécois is opposed to the shark pavilion, Espace Hubert-Reeves, the Forillon shipyard and the Montreal North sports centre. Today, Quebeckers are dumbfounded. Where was the Bloc Québécois yesterday?”
“Mr. Speaker, we will take no lessons from the Conservatives. What they did yesterday under their leader was to vote against investment in infrastructure. Under their leader, they voted against investment in housing. Under the Conservative leader, they voted against productivity and innovation in our country. Under their leader, they voted against investment in our sovereignty. On this side of the House, we will build a strong Canada, we will empower Canadians and we will protect our sovereignty, because we believe in Canada.”
“Mr. Speaker, that is precisely the question Canadians are asking themselves at home. How could the Conservatives have the nerve to vote against Canada yesterday? Our budget is all about strengthening Canada's sovereignty. Our budget invests in our military capacity. Our budget increases military salaries. How are the Conservatives going to go back to their ridings and explain to their constituents that they voted against Canada yesterday, when we all need to work together to meet a historic moment in our nation's history?”
“Mr. Speaker, I am glad to see that the Leader of the Opposition read the executive summary of the budget. One thing is for sure: We are not going to take any lessons from the Conservatives. Yesterday, the Conservatives voted against investment in infrastructure. The Conservatives voted against investment in housing. The Conservatives voted against productivity and innovation in this country. The Conservatives voted against investment in defence. Those of us on this side of the House will always fight for a strong Canada. We will build a strong Canada together. Today, the Conservatives should be asking themselves why they do not support Canadians.”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. We worked together with our NDP colleagues, and the result was obviously to maintain programs that are important to Canadians. These include child care, school food and national pharmacare programs. The most important thing is that we are making a generational investment in affordable housing that should help all Canadians. We will always be there to help the middle class. The first thing we did was to reduce income taxes to let Canadians keep more money in their pockets. Canadians know that we will always be there for them.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to see smiles on the faces of my Bloc Québécois colleagues, because there is a lot of good news in the November 4 budget. Bloc members are in the Magdalen Islands for the announcement about the airport. I hope they will be available for tonight's vote because I know the people of the Magdalen Islands. They watch television, and they will be watching tonight's vote. There is even more good news, such as the Port of Saguenay and the Contrecoeur expansion. There are many projects that will help Quebec grow, and we will also be investing in health care infrastructure. This is a budget that meets Quebeckers' expectations. Will the Bloc Québécois do the right thing?”
“Mr. Speaker, I know it is a big budget. I am afraid they may have missed a chapter. Let me help them. Someone called Kevin Page, who served our nation, said: We need to focus on economic growth. We need capital investment to boost innovation, improve our infrastructure and diversify trade. We live in dangerous times, and we must meet our NATO spending targets. I believe Parliament should approve the budget plan.... These are the words of a former parliamentary budget officer. We believe in Canada. Let us hope and let us see if the Conservatives will support Canadians.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is only Monday and we already have good news: Inflation is down, employment is up and we have presented a generational investment budget to Canadians. We are going to invest in building this country. We are going to invest in protecting our sovereignty. We are going to empower Canadians. We are going to grow this economy at the second-fastest rate in the G7, because we believe in Canada. Canadians are going to see whether the Conservatives believe in Canada, because today, we will have a vote. Let us hope we are going to walk together. Canada needs to grow—”
“Mr. Speaker, I want to thank the member for her advocacy. In the throne speech, we said we must fight climate change, and our new climate competitiveness strategy includes measures to reduce emissions, including by strengthening industrial carbon pricing, incentivizing investments to reduce carbon and mobilizing private capital. We are also creating a new youth climate corps to empower young people in the fight against climate change. We are committed to protecting nature by halting and reversing nature loss and biodiversity loss through reinforced efforts to conserve 30%—”
“Mr. Speaker, I think, as it is Friday, it is worth repeating. The economy has added 67,000 new jobs. Even the Conservatives are happy this morning, on a Friday. We can look at their faces. They are smiling because they are going back home and they have good news, and not only on the budget. There are hundreds of pages of good news. Also, this morning they can say that the plan of the government will build Canada strong, because of what? Because we believe in Canada.”
“Mr. Speaker, my colleague will remember that the first thing we did for Canadians was cut taxes for 22 million Canadians because we understood that affordability is at the heart of the concerns of Canadians. More than that, I am sure he saw in the budget an initiative that I know he supports, because we talked about it when we made benefits automatic for Canadians. That is the way we want to do things. We want to cut red tape, support Canadians and build a great country together.”
“Mr. Speaker, I think my colleague saw in the budget that we were true to our values, Canadian values. We made sure that, while we did a budget focused on the future and investment, we protected people, child care, pharmacare and dental care. We understand on this side of the House that affordability and supporting Canadians at a time like this are essential. At the same time as we are going to build a great future, we are going to take care of Canadians today, because we believe in Canada.”
“Mr. Speaker, we have lots of good news for Canadians, but only 30 seconds to explain it. Yes, with Build Canada Homes, we are going to build more affordable housing. With the community-building fund, we will be able to invest in water systems and municipal infrastructure. We have set up a health infrastructure fund, as Quebec requested. All members of the House should stand in support of a generational budget. We are going to help future generations and build a strong Canada. We believe in Canada.”
“Mr. Speaker, let me repeat that, because I know they like to hear it: Canada has the strongest fiscal position in the G7. We are not the only ones who have said it; the director of the International Monetary Fund has said that Canada and Germany stand out. We have the fiscal capacity to invest. We are going to build this country and we are going to protect this nation. We are going to build Canada strong together.”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his question. We are in Ottawa. I would like to reassure all public service employees, who do exceptional work. I think everyone in the House can applaud them. These are men and women who are there to serve Canadians. We thank them for their work. We value their work. In our plan, we are saying that we will bring the public service back to a more sustainable size. We will do so in a compassionate and judicious manner. Most of these measures will be implemented through attrition. I think families here in Ottawa can sleep soundly tonight. We will be there for them.”
“Mr. Speaker, I understand that my colleague has had a lot of reading to get through today, but there is an entire chapter on climate competitiveness. We understand that it is not only the right thing to do, but also the smart thing to do. My colleague will be pleased to see what is in the budget. I will give him this evening to read the budget, but he will see the many investment tax credits it provides for clean technologies. On this side of the House, we know that we can build a strong, low-carbon economy. This budget addresses that issue. We are going to be there for this generation and future generations. We are going to invest in Canadian industry.”
“Mr. Speaker, perhaps we should start over and give him another chance. There is a difference between spending and investing. The member should be happy because the people in his riding will see investments in infrastructure. They may even see investments in health care infrastructure. The plan we are proposing today is an investment plan, a generational budget of generational investments. People at home understand that we need to invest in our prosperity. We need to invest in our young people. We need to invest in our workers. We need to invest in our industries. We need to invest in Canada. On this side of the House, we believe in Canada.”
“Mr. Speaker, we made a clear choice. We chose Canadians. I know the budget has many pages. Maybe my colleague missed a chapter, but let me help him because we have a bit of time. We made the choice to invest in Canadians. We made the choice to protect and build our communities. We made the choice to invest in our young people. We made the choice to invest in our workers. We made the choice to invest in housing. We made the choice to invest in infrastructure. We made the choice to invest in productivity and competitiveness. We made the choice to invest in our defence. I hope the Conservatives see that and that their constituents will be watching. Will they make the choice to invest in Canadians as well? On this side of the House, the answer is clear. We will take no lessons from the Conservatives. We will take lessons from history.”
“Mr. Speaker, I have a great deal of respect for my colleague, but yes, it is a generational investment budget. I can tell him that we were innovative with this budget. He should be very pleased. I know that the Quebeckers watching us are happy because for the first time, in our infrastructure fund, there will also be funding for health infrastructure, an issue raised by Quebec. Quebec has asked us to invest alongside it in health care, in clinics and hospitals, to ensure that everyone has access to modern infrastructure. We answered Quebec's call. We answered the call of Quebeckers. We answered the call of Canadians. Our infrastructure investment plan is generational. It will make our communities stronger, and we should all be very proud of that.”
“Budget 2025 makes our choice clear. We choose confidence over resignation. We choose to empower Canadians, to build this country together and to protect what we hold dear. [ Translation ] It is about confidence in ourselves, in our capacity to adapt and in this country's promise. [ English ] It is about a Canada that builds, protects and empowers. It is about moving from reliance to resilience, and from uncertainty to prosperity. Let us seize the moment. Let us build Canada strong, because we are, and will always be, the true north, strong and free. [ Translation ] Long live Canada.”
“(1705) [ English ] It all comes down to a choice between two visions: one vision of resignation, a vision that would scale back the vital support Canadians rely on, make it harder for families to find a home and leave our country more vulnerable, poorer and dependent; and another vision, one rooted in confidence in Canadians and in the belief that by making generational investments today, we can build lasting prosperity for tomorrow by putting more money in people's pockets, by ensuring every Canadian can retire with dignity, by making the dream of home ownership a reality once again, by building the infrastructure our cities need to grow and by keeping our communities safe for our children and our parents. That is the path we choose. That is the path of budget 2025. I even see smiles on the other side. That is a good sign.”
“This is how we give Canadians the tools they need to shape the future. This is how we build Canada strong. [ Translation ] To conclude, the budget I am tabling today is our framework for Canada's future and a road map to prosperity and resilience.”
“[ English ] When we talk about youth and future generations, I think every member of this House should pay attention, because they are the future of our country. Through a suite of new measures, we will extend union training, extend the tax credit to personal support workers, who, in doing their work, are always there for our people, and enhance labour mobility. Canadian workers will drive Canada's economic transformation with new skills and training, and they will seize the exciting, high-paying careers and good union jobs that it will create. In the words of the Canadian Labour Congress, “These measures signal a shift toward putting workers at the heart of Canada's economic strategy.” We should all be proud. Workers will always be at the heart of our economic strategy.”
“We can all be very proud of that. [ English ] Every time, and I know my colleagues join me in this, we know it is because of the talent, the expertise and the dedication of our workers that Canada wins. They are the best workers in the world. That is why we see investment. Every day they go to work, and obviously it is thanks to their service to our nation and their talent that we can succeed. We will continue to work with them to make Canada the place to invest. [ Translation ] Budget 2025 expands learning, training and growth opportunities for young people. It creates new pathways for careers in construction, clean energy and manufacturing. It is essential that we give the next generation the confidence and skills needed to succeed.”
“[ English ] Canada is the place to invest, and we understand also that this is not only the right thing to do but also the smart thing to do. I want to commend the work of my colleagues who have been leading the effort on that, because these investments would allow us to modernize our networks. They will allow us to have projects of national interest, and they will also make sure we connect Canada with our electricity network. [ Translation ] By becoming a global leader in clean technology and clean energy, Canada can strengthen its competitive advantage and help our industries thrive in the global economy. [ English ] Let me talk about our youth, because our youth are the future of this nation. [ Translation ] In Canada, we have the most skilled and talented workers, as well as the most educated workforce in the world.”
“(1700) [ Translation ] Our plan will allow us to ensure better control of our immigration system while maintaining our approach based on our Canadian values. Climate action is not only a moral obligation, it is an economic necessity. The key to competitiveness and growth is also to be a leader in a low-carbon economy. Our climate competitiveness strategy turns Canada's natural wealth—critical minerals, clean power—into lasting prosperity. Reducing our emissions is essential to protecting the competitiveness of Canada's energy sectors. We are introducing a comprehensive suite of clean economy investment tax credits—measures that are already generating billions of dollars in private capital for projects in hydrogen, carbon capture, and clean electricity.”
“Throughout our history, we have opened our doors to the world. We have always welcomed people fleeing the most difficult situations, people seeking to study at our world-class universities and people willing to share their expertise and drive innovation in Canada, people wanting to contribute to Canada. We are taking back control of the immigration system and putting Canada on a trajectory to bring immigration back to sustainable levels, allowing us to fulfill the promise of Canada to the people who call it home. Our plan will restore control and will provide clarity and consistency to the immigration system while maintaining compassion in our choices and driving competitiveness in our economy.”
“Budget 2025 is about productivity and competitiveness. It is about a road map for Canada to be the place to invest. It is already great; we are going to make it greater together. Obviously the numbers in a budget can seem a bit abstract for people watching and wondering what they mean to them, so let me make them very concrete. As I said earlier, this budget will unleash $1 trillion in total investment over the next five years. That would boost the average wage in Canada by some $3,000 per year. That is what the budget means for workers. That is what it means for families. That is what it means for Canadians. It would add $15 billion to federal revenues that can support health care, lower taxes and pay down Canada's debt. We choose Canada. We will make Canada strong because we believe in Canada.”
“We have some of the best researchers, and some of them have even won the Nobel Prize. We have the brains, we have the capacity and we have the will. We will lead because we believe in Canada. We will become a productivity and innovation powerhouse through a number of measures. The first is our productivity superdeduction to create the right climate for businesses to invest in new machinery, equipment and technologies. There will be a bold expansion of projects of national interest in artificial intelligence, clean technology and advanced manufacturing. We will turn Canadian innovation into industrial strength, and we will enhance tax incentives for Canadian builders to conduct research and development in this country and make it seamless for them to apply to these essential tax credits that will drive innovation and productivity.”
“Productivity is not about working harder. It is about working smarter. It is about how well we mobilize ideas, workers, investment and innovation to generate growth. It is what drives up wages in our country, improves living standards and strengthens public services. [ Translation ] For too long, Canada's productivity has been lagging—a challenge we can and must overcome. [ English ] Artificial intelligence will be the defining technology of our time, just as electricity was in the last century. [ Translation ] AI will play a key role, along with quantum and other advanced technologies, to put Canada on a path of sustained growth. [ English ] Remember, Canada was the very first country in the world to have an AI national strategy and an AI quantum strategy.”
“(1655) [ English ] I think all of us can agree that Canada is the best place to live. It is the reason top talent from around the world want to come here. They see opportunities and possibilities to contribute to cutting-edge research in our country. With our flagship international talent attraction strategy of more than $1.7 billion, we will make sure that the best and brightest continue to chose Canada to innovate, invent and grow our industry. The best and brightest will come to Canada. This is how we build a Canada strong: by making a generational investment of $115 billion over five years in measures that will drive productivity and competitiveness. We will supercharge growth in Canada and become the strongest economy in the G7 because we believe in Canada. Let me be clear to all Canadians watching at home tonight.”
“[ English ] Through budget 2025, we are launching a trade diversification strategy supported by a trade diversification corridors fund to expand Canada's reach and double our overseas exports within a decade, which will unlock $300 billion in new opportunities for Canadian businesses and workers. This is good news for small and medium-sized businesses. This is good news for exporters. This is good news because now they see we are going to expand our markets. We are going to bring what Canada has to offer to the world. [ Translation ] We will strengthen ports, railways and ports of entry, we will reduce bottlenecks, and we will open faster routes to global markets, because when Canadian businesses are competitive and successful abroad, Canadian workers and communities prosper right here at home.”
“She has been there leading the way to make sure we invest and continue this important work across our nation. [ Translation ] As we strengthen our security partnerships, it is essential that we continue deepening our economic partnerships. In order to build a stronger future, we must increase trade, innovate faster and play a leading role in clean and conventional energy. Trade has always been one of Canada's strengths, connecting our population, our resources and our industries to the rest of the world, but too much of that trade depends on a single partner.”
“[ Translation ] Our plan will create new jobs for our engineers, technicians and scientists in sectors such as aerospace, shipbuilding, cybersecurity and AI. We will hire 1,000 new border services officers and 1,000 new RCMP personnel to secure our borders and keep our communities safe. Finally, by investing in law enforcement and justice reform, we will tackle organized crime, gun violence and auto theft. We will also invest and we will continue, with passion and determination, as my colleague, the Minister of Women and Gender Equality , is doing, the important work with the provinces and territories to end gender-based violence. My colleague is doing an outstanding job, and we will continue to support her. [ English ] Every Canadian should feel safe, and I want to commend the leadership of my colleague. She is extraordinary.”
“We will reinforce our Arctic defence, and we will equip our brave men and women of the Canadian Armed Forces with the infrastructure and technology they need to safeguard our nation. We will do that because we believe in Canada. With our new Defence Investment Agency and defence industrial strategy, we will build up Canada's defence industry, strengthening Canadian businesses, supporting Canadian workers and creating good union jobs across our country. Our work on defence will strengthen the Canadian research centres. It will strengthen Canadian communities in the north, working with our Inuit and first nations partners across the country, by building dual-use infrastructure like ports and runways to make sure that every community can benefit when we invest.”
“In that vein, I am sure, as I look across the aisle in the eyes of every member in this House, that every member would agree that we need to protect our people, our communities and our country. Every Canadian expects every member of this House to be there for them. When it comes to our security and sovereignty, we should all be rising to defend what we are proposing. A confident nation protects its sovereignty at home and its interests abroad, through strength, stability and partnership with allies who share our values. This is what we are doing. [ Translation ] With $30 billion over five years, budget 2025 represents the largest defence investment in decades. (1650) [ English ] I have even more good news. We will meet our 2% NATO commitment this year. We will modernize NORAD.”
“[ English ] These are practical measures that make life more affordable today and build confidence in tomorrow, because when Canadians can afford a home, when Canadians can raise a family and when Canadians can plan for the future, our entire country grows stronger. [ Translation ] Prosperity is only meaningful when it is shared and when all Canadians can see themselves in the promise of this country. [ English ] With this budget, every Canadian should feel there is something for them. It is not only about today; it is about future generations and building for them. It is about making sure that we have a very strong country for generations to come. As the Prime Minister has said, there can be no prosperity without security.”
“Then we brought down gas prices by 18¢ per litre when we cancelled the consumer carbon price. Some hon. members: Oh, oh! Hon. François-Philippe Champagne: Mr. Speaker, even the Conservatives are cheering. They should be cheering about this as well: We made permanent the national school food program, helping 400,000 children each year. I know in their hearts, they support it. [ Translation ] We have launched automatic federal benefits, reaching 5.5 million low-income Canadians, to ensure no one gets left behind. We will strengthen competition in the telecommunications and banking sectors in order to drive down costs.”
“We will improve affordability and create careers in the skilled trades, because as we build this country, young people will see the dream they have of home ownership come within reach again. That is what we want to do for future generations. Every home built is a step toward a more affordable and more confident Canada. (1645) [ Translation ] Affordability is not only about housing. It is about making life easier for Canadians and reducing everyday costs, while protecting the programs that families right across our great country depend on. Canadians elected us to take bold action to help them improve their quality of life quickly. [ English ] That is what we did, and we will continue to do it. The very first thing the Prime Minister did for Canadians was to cut taxes for 22 million Canadians. That is the first thing we did.”
“We need to build faster. We need to build bigger. We need to build now. We need to build Canada strong. We have put in this budget record investments of $13 billion over five years in our flagship homebuilding initiative, Build Canada Homes. I am sure Canadians across the country understand that, because this will ensure we build at a speed and scale that we have not seen in generations. We will double the pace of housing construction over the next decade while we create a new industry, one that will be using Canadian technology, Canadian workers and Canadian lumber. We will use Canadian workers to build Canada with Canadian material. This is what we are going to do because we believe in Canada.”
“We believe in a strong Canada. Our new government is investing heavily to help Canadians get ahead. [ English ] On the housing front, I think this is something that speaks to everyone: each young person in the country, each family in the country and everyone listening today. Canada faces a steep housing supply gap that has threatened affordability. Our minister has been doing great work to make sure we have more supply and to continue that. We need to make sure Canadians across the nation can find a home because finding a home is the best way to build their lives. We want to be there for them. Budget 2025 is the most ambitious housing plan since the Second World War. This is what we are delivering for Canadians. The moment calls for it and we are meeting the moment. The Prime Minister has been clear: We need to build in this country.”
“[ Translation ] A strong country invests not only in its economy, but also in its identity. Over the past year, Canadians have shown what Canada is really made of. When global uncertainty tested us, we looked to each other. People asked where their food was grown and chose to buy from local farmers and producers. Families travelled across the country and rediscovered its beauty, from coast to coast to coast. Communities rallied around Canadian businesses, creators and workers. That is what it means to be Canadian: to stand up for one another, to build together, and to take pride in what we make, grow and create here at home. That is what it means to be Canadian, and that is why we are here to stand up for Canada. We are a bilingual, diverse and compassionate country, shaped by reconciliation, equality and respect.”
“Our task is simple, but it is profound: to turn plans into projects, to turn projects into careers and to turn careers into prosperity. That is what we are committed to doing, and that is what we will do with Canadians across the nation. We will do so in a way that protects our future and also protects our nature and our core values, building in true partnership with indigenous peoples, whose stewardship and knowledge of the land continue to guide us today, because we build not just for ourselves; we build also for those who will follow us. I am often reminded of the seven-generation principle. Rooted in indigenous teachings, it is a reminder that every decision we take must consider its impact on future generations. We will build Canada strong, but we will build with Canadian values.”
“(1640) [ Translation ] More recently, we built the James Bay hydroelectric facility in 1985, providing abundant clean energy to power Canadian industries and enabling Canada to become one of the world's top producers of renewable hydroelectric energy. [ English ] That is why I am so proud of Canada. That is why we want to build Canada strong together. Each generation has taken on its share of the work and has left the next generation stronger for it. We will do it again because we believe in Canada. With planned investments of $115 billion in infrastructure over five years, we will meet the moment. That is what Canadians expect from their government. They know what is going on. They want us to meet the moment, and we will meet that moment and will build the backbone of Canada's next economy.”
“As so-called minister of everything at the time, the great C.D. Howe banked on the boundless potential of Canada to make big, big changes in our country. He was not afraid to bet big on Canadians, and neither are we, because we believe in Canada. This budget is guided by the strong conviction that Canada must remain a nation of builders of infrastructure and innovation, of trust in public institutions and of hope for generations to come. This nation knows how to build. We built the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1885, allowing our country to be connected from coast to coast and supporting trade across the Prairies. We built the St. Lawrence Seaway more recently, in 1959, creating a deep-water route from the Great Lakes to the Atlantic Ocean.”