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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Every one of 851 lines we hold for François-Philippe Champagne, in date order, each linked to its source. Free to read, in full, without an account. Page 13 of 18.
“Mr. Speaker, I know it is getting late. I will say to my colleague, I do believe that it is great for Canada to have a AAA credit rating. I can say that my colleagues at the G7 are very envious of Canada's position, because they know that we are the true north, strong and free.”
“Mr. Speaker, the question people watching at home have on their mind is whether the member believes it is important for Canada to meet its NATO commitment of 2% of investment in defence. This is really the question people at home are asking themselves: Does the member believe it important to meet our NATO commitment of 2%?”
“Mr. Speaker, the member knows me well; he has known me for a bit. He knows I believe in fiscal discipline, and he knows as well that we are going to present a very ambitious budget, a budget he is going to be proud to present to his constituents.”
“Mr. Speaker, my colleague would be happy to learn that the public debt charges' percentage of nominal GDP has been pretty consistent, at around the range of 1.5% over the last decade, and in 2023-24, it was 1.6%. That is a very good place to be. That is why we believe in Canada strong.”
“Mr. Speaker, the member should be proud, and I can see he is proud, that Canada is one of the two countries in the G7 with a AAA credit rating. It is a great place to be. He should have come with us to the G7 finance ministers'—”
“Mr. Speaker, I will give another number to my colleague, because I know he likes numbers. If we look at the FES 2024 projections, our deficit-to-GDP is 1.6%. He can look at the other G7 countries. He will see that we are in a very good position.”
“Mr. Speaker, what I agree with is that Canada is one of only two countries in the G7 that has a AAA credit rating, with Germany. I am looking at a former finance minister in Quebec. He knows how important it is to have that kind of credit rating and have the lowest—”
“Mr. Speaker, I know it is getting late, but I will provide good news, because I like this member in particular, who is a very smart member. He will know what really matters to Canadians is that, with Germany, Canada is the only country in the G7 to have a AAA credit rating. I can see his face; he is smiling because that is something that he should be—”
“Mr. Speaker, the member should be proud. It is a bit late, but if my memory serves me well, we ranked number three in the world for attraction of investment just last year or the year before. Canada is the place to invest and investors know that. We do not need to argue that in the House. Investors—”
“Mr. Speaker, the member is talking to the wrong person asking that. We have brought historic investment into this country. I can think of major projects and major investments. We can look at Dow Chemical and Volkswagen coming into our country. We can look at these—”
“Mr. Speaker, we support in principle all forms of transportation that can bring our natural resources to market, including pipelines, energy corridors and transmission lines. We have been very clear on that. Not only that, the premiers have come together to say that they want to do more to support our natural resources getting to market. The member should be rejoicing about that. The premiers have—”
“Mr. Speaker, it is clear that we need to bring our natural resources to market, and that includes different things. We are going to be supporting that. It is why we had a great meeting. I wish the member would have been in Saskatoon. Maybe next time we should think of having him with us, because he would have seen how the Canadian premiers—”
“Mr. Speaker, this question was addressed with the premiers at the great meeting we had in Saskatoon. Everyone wants to see more being done for energy corridors in this country. We want to bring our energy and our natural resources to market.”
“Mr. Speaker, it is good to hear that my colleague is looking at my Twitter account. I might even suggest that he follow me. The numbers I post on social media are accurate. We obviously want to keep Canadians informed. I am pleased to see that my colleague pays close attention to what we post on social media, because this is important information for Canadians and for the industry.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am a Quebecker, and I think that Quebeckers and the Bloc Québécois members want the tariffs gone. The main thing we want is no tariffs. Then there would be no retaliatory measures. That is why our priority is to fight the tariffs and protect our sectors, our industry and our workers as we build one Canadian economy.”
“Mr. Speaker, I have shared several numbers tonight. To date, we have raised $1.7 billion from the retaliatory measures. It is important to note that we have imposed tariffs on $95 billion worth of goods imported from the United States. We have implemented historic measures to protect our industries and respond to this American threat to Canadian industry.”
“Mr. Speaker, we need to look at every possible measure to support the steel and aluminum sector. That is why we are having intense discussions with our colleagues. Both he and I want the same thing. I know him, and I know that he, too, wants to stand up for workers in the industry. We have the same goal. That is why we are working hand in hand with the industry.”
“Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague for his excellent question. He is a very well-informed man. Obviously, he knows or he will know that we are discussing with the aluminum and steel industry to take the appropriate measures to defend our industries and protect our Canadian industries, while encouraging Canadian procurement to support our steel and aluminum industries. I can confirm that we are working closely with people in the steel and aluminum sector.”
“Mr. Speaker, I get my colleague's enthusiasm. I know him. He is an enthusiastic guy, and he wants to see things right away. I am sure my colleague will have an opportunity to read the plans as soon as they are available. The important thing is that he already has the financial framework, which he saw in the main estimates. That alone gives him a good overview of the government's priorities.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am sure that my colleague is going to like this, since he is a numbers guy. In the spending plan for the Department of Finance, 99% of planned expenditures are statutory expenditures. Less than 1% of these expenditures are departmental operating expenditures. I think my colleague can see that the Department of Finance budgets are really transfers to the provinces, including Quebec.”
“Mr. Speaker, I am here at the behest of the members. Members voted for us to be here at 9:55 p.m. I am making myself available to the House to answer members' questions, especially questions from my Bloc Québécois colleagues, whom I hold in high esteem.”
“Mr. Speaker, again, the member should take comfort in his heart that Canada, with its AAA credit rating, is the only country, with Germany, in the G7 that has that fiscal position. That is a very strong position, and that is why he should be happy to have a finance minister with fiscal discipline.”
“Mr. Speaker, the member is talking about the G7. I intend to continue as the chair of the G7 finance ministers' meeting with central bank governors. We continue to provide leadership. We even came out with a communiqué in Banff. It was more than people had expected. We came out with a communiqué.”
“Mr. Speaker, we inherited what we all have as Canadians. We have a country that has a AAA credit rating and the lowest debt-to-GDP. We should be very proud. I was at the G7 meeting, and next time I might invite the member. He will see how G7 colleagues appreciate Canada—”
“Mr. Speaker, as the Minister of Finance, I always want to see revenues grow because revenues allow us to deliver services to Canadians. Obviously, we will continue to be fiscally prudent but, at the same time, look at ways to support Canadians.”
“Mr. Speaker, as the Minister of Finance, I always want the economy to grow because it allows us to have revenue to provide services to Canadians and transfers to provinces and territories. I think my colleague also wants to see revenues grow.”
“Mr. Speaker, let us look at the chart. Ten years ago, the public debt charge was $24.2 billion and represented 1.2% of GDP. If we look at 2023-24, it represents 1.6%. Canada has been consistently maintaining a low level as—”
“Mr. Speaker, as the member wants to talk about numbers, I will go to the numbers. In 2023-24, the public debt charge percentage of nominal GDP was 1.2%. In 2023-24, it was 1.6%. Canada is in a very enviable position as a member of the G7.”
“Mr. Speaker, if my colleague were to look at the public debt charge percentage of nominal GDP, he would see that, over the last decade, they have always been in the range of 1% to 1.5%. It is a great position to be in as a country.”
“Mr. Speaker, I know the member is a very experienced member. He reads “The Fiscal Monitor”. I know him. He is the type of member who would focus on “The Fiscal Monitor” to get his information. If he is reading—”
“Mr. Speaker, the member probably will not be asking if I can say “oil and gas” or something like that. I can assure him that we are proud of what we produce in Canada, and we want to build infrastructure so we can—”
“Mr. Speaker, I just wish the member had been in Saskatoon recently. He would have seen that there is unity in this country like we have never seen before. People want to build. They want to make sure our resources go to market. That should have been a moment celebrated by all Conservatives. I know many of the western premiers, who text me quite often. They want to make sure that we build things together, and we are quite happy to build with them.”
“Mr. Speaker, what I think is fair is that we join together in building this country. I am speaking with premiers in western Canada. They are very happy to work with this new government so that we can build Canada strong. I know that Conservatives, in their hearts, want to build this Canada. They want to join us. That is why they voted for the first ways and means motion we presented.”
“Mr. Speaker, it will not be a surprise that as a finance minister, I like revenue. Revenue allows us to provide services to Canadians, to make financial transfers to provinces and territories for Canadians, and to maintain the social fabric of our country. It will not be a big surprise that a finance minister always likes revenue.”
“Mr. Speaker, I believe my colleague should be very happy. There is a lot for him to be happy about, because now we are talking about projects of national interest. Just recently we had all the premiers get together with the Prime Minister to build Canada strong. We want to build an energy corridor. We want to build this country. I can see in his eyes that he is happy as well because we are going to build Canada strong.”
“Mr. Speaker, members are free to speak. This is the House of Commons. This is the House of the people. Everyone is free to speak their mind, and I would invite every member to do so. I have been here for a decade, and I have always spoken my mind.”
“Mr. Speaker, we always do what is appropriate to defend our industry and our workers. I would hope that our Conservative friends would join us in the fight. This is an existential fight for Canada, and I know that in their heart they would want to be part of this generational opportunity to fight along with us.”
“Mr. Speaker, I always want to inform the member's constituents. We are going to fight. That is something Canadians understand; they know how to fight. That is why we said, “elbows up”. I think it has galvanized Canadians across the nation.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would be pleased to speak to the member's constituents. I know a few of them, and they are great people. I can refer them to the April 15 press release. There is a lot of good information there. I know our Conservative colleagues would like to read the press releases of the Liberal government—”
“Mr. Speaker, the member went from travel to tariffs; I guess that is because they both start with “T”. That must be in the order of questions. Colleagues would know that there is a great framework in place. My colleague is an experienced member—”
“Mr. Speaker, I am so glad to hear that my colleague is actually paying so much attention to what I do. I also travel to Shawinigan every weekend, and I would be glad to invite him there as well. He seems to be very interested in where I am going. It is great. I travel—”
“Mr. Speaker, first of all, I am happy to say hello to my colleague. He was my critic when I was a young man, when I started in this House. Now I see that, 10 years later, I still have the pleasure to have to answer his questions. He comes from a great region. My dad lives next to him—”
“Mr. Speaker, it will take me less than a minute to provide good news to Canadians. If we look at the increase for the Canada health transfer, we are talking about an increase of $2.6 billion. This is money that would go to support health care in Toronto—St. Paul's, in Shawinigan, in Brampton and everywhere across the country. This is really good news. We have a government that is standing up for Canadians and helping them and increasing the health transfer. I know my colleague participated in these important discussions. The people of Toronto—St. Paul's should be very proud to have a member who has been part of making Canada fairer and making sure that we would support the health transfer and support provinces and territories in providing health care to our citizens.”
“Mr. Speaker, that is a very important question. Like I said, when we had the G7 meeting, we had the opportunity to show the world that Canada and the other G7 finance colleagues were standing shoulder to shoulder with Ukraine. In fact, there is good news in the main estimates: There is an increase in the development and financial intermediary response for Ukraine of $200 million. What the Ukrainians want is deeds, is action, and this is Canada supporting Ukraine in a very tangible way. We have been there for Ukraine, we are there for Ukraine, and we will be there for Ukraine because they are fighting for democracy and they are fighting for dignity. Canadians are proud to support our Ukrainian friends at this particular—”
“On a home of up to $1 million, people can save up to $50,000. This is very significant. I can see the impact it is having in Canada. That is the type of policy that Canadians want to see. I can see the enthusiasm even from the Conservatives because they voted in favour. For once, they did the right thing and voted for Canadians.”
“It is great to see so many Conservatives wanting to learn from an hon. member who knows something about finance. She really provided to all the colleagues this kind of overarching chapeau about everything we are doing to support Canadians, and there are a lot of learnings. I saw that the Conservatives were taking notes. That is a good sign. When they are taking notes, they see all the good things we are doing. In particular, the member talked about the health transfer. She talked about equalization. She talked about all the transfers to help Canadians, the people in Toronto—St. Paul's and across the nation. However, there is one other measure she mentioned. Housing is an issue. It is an issue in Toronto, but also around the country. The member talked about one of the measures, which is the elimination of GST for first-time homebuyers.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would first like to congratulate my colleague from Toronto—St. Paul's. She is an extraordinary colleague. I have had a chance to see her in action in so many ways. She held various senior posts in finance as well, and we could see that in her speech. I am sure the people of Toronto—St. Paul's have been watching tonight at home and listening to her and saying that this is someone who understands finance; this is someone who understands how to build a country; this is someone who is going to make a great contribution to the House of Commons. I think we should all be listening to her and learning from her. I even see my Conservative colleagues so enthusiastic about listening and engaging with her because they want to learn as well. I know them. They want to learn.”
“Mr. Speaker, I would even invite my colleague to give my number to this Beauce business owner. I would very much like to speak with him. I recently hosted Beauce residents who thanked me for being there for them, for defending them and for providing liquidity to industry. These are tangible ways to help people in Beauce and across Quebec and Canada defend themselves against these unjustified, unfair and illegal tariffs. Our industries know that we will always be there for them and for workers.”
“Mr. Speaker, my colleague, the Minister of International Trade , and I are finding new markets for certain steel and aluminum products. It is important to diversify exports and we are working together with the industry.”
“Mr. Speaker, I will provide an equally clear answer: It is to fight every day. The Prime Minister is fighting, the ministers are fighting, Canada is fighting against these tariffs. I invite my colleague to join us in this historic battle. He will be able to tell his grandchildren that he did something good for the country.”