SoVote

Mr. Mike Morrice (Kitchener Centre, GP)

Feb/3/23 10:30:18 a.m.
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Re: Bill C-34

Madam Speaker, the minister spoke about the importance of innovation. While my question is not directly about the bill, it is related and I hope it is allowed. One area where we need innovation is in telecommunications. The prices are going up for people in my community and across the country because of reduced competition. The minister will soon be making a decision about a proposed merger between Rogers and Shaw. We both know this merger is not innovative. Innovation would be giving consideration to what the Province of Saskatchewan has already done, building a national, publicly owned telecommunications network. Will the minister give this idea consideration in lieu of allowing even less competition in the telecommunications industry?

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Context: House Hansard - 153 - Feb/3/23

The Assistant Deputy Speaker (Mrs. Carol Hughes)

Feb/3/23 11:36:40 a.m.
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The Minister of Innovation, Science and Industry.

7 words

Context: House Hansard - 153 - Feb/3/23

Mr. Sébastien Lemire

Feb/3/23 12:45:50 p.m.
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Re: Bill C-34

Mr. Speaker, I thank my colleague from Saint-Jean for delivering such an accurate analysis. Once again, I would like to highlight the work that is being done at the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology. As a result of the Neo Lithium study, we have undertaken a study on strategic critical minerals. Even before the last election was called, I criticized the fact that Canada had no national strategy on strategic critical minerals. A strategy was then created based on the work of the Standing Committee on Industry and Technology. In my view, it is fundamental to ensure that processing can happen on site at the mine, in order to highlight the key role of the region where the resource and mine are located. First of all, there are obvious savings to be had in terms of transportation costs, as well as an environmental benefit, but above all, it is the best way to protect our industries, particularly the automotive industry. We know there is a lot of back-and-forth involved. An automotive part can cross the border 50 times or so. However, if processing happens at the mine, it would ensure that our national economy is protected.

201 words

Context: House Hansard - 153 - Feb/3/23

Mr. Brian Masse

Feb/3/23 1:13:59 p.m.
Watch
Re: Bill C-34

Madam Speaker, a couple of things come to mind right away, which also relate to the previous question and the so-called free-market economy. I do not know where this exists. There are a couple of points. First of all, trade always existed. We just created boundaries. My area was settled for 300 years, but prior to that, it was indigenous; in terms of its trading area, trade always happened. There is no doubt that we are always going to be trading. However, countries protect certain industries. When we look at the United States, which is always held up as the model of capitalism, they have the Jones act and the Buy American Act. They have different pieces of legislation related to procurement for the arms industry and the supply and manufacturing industry, all those things that are national and strategic. I want a national policy on manufacturing to be developed. We have done some of those things in the past, but we should at least match our competition in the world and be careful about how we have investments come in. We should also be careful about vulnerability with regard to where we invest public money and then have it actually go across a board.

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