Charles Sousa

Mr. Speaker, I have the honour to present, in both official languages, the fourth report of the Standing Committee on National Defence, entitled “Strengthening Canada's Resilience on the Critical Mineral Front”. Pursuant to Standing Order 109, the committee requests that the government table a comprehensive response to this report.

Madam Speaker, the recent surge in diesel prices has indeed created real challenges for Canadians. Farmers bringing in this year's harvest are facing higher costs. Trucking companies moving goods across the country are facing higher costs. Businesses that rely on diesel power and equipment are also facing higher costs. When transportation costs rise, Canadians often see those costs reflected in [more]

Mr. Speaker, my colleague brings up a very important fact. Canada is sought-after around the world. We have negotiated over 20 trade agreements, and we are the top foreign direct investment jurisdiction in the world because of those initiatives and because Canada is seen as a trusted partner. Other countries want to deal with those that abide by the rule of law and that ensure social justice as [more]

Madam Speaker, I appreciate the fact that we are asking questions. We should always ask questions, and the government should be held accountable to the investments it is making for the future benefit of Canadians. I will argue, though, that demand does exist. The prosperity and legacy of that demand over a longer period of time of time may dwindle, which is all the more reason we have to look at [more]

Mr. Speaker, I agree that we need to enact certain legislation to speed up the process. We have had too much interference by the bureaucracy to enable some of these projects to take place. The system will always abide by and have safeguards, and so it must, but we need to expedite that more quickly—

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the question, and I also appreciate what most Canadians are appreciating, which is the fact that we are looking for results, we are looking at outcomes, we are working closely together with other nations, we are diversifying our trade, we are broadening our reach and we are protecting our sovereignty by becoming more resilient. These economic efforts are for the benefit [more]

Mr. Speaker, I have the bill before me, and I am going to read something within it verbatim: The purpose of this Act is to enhance Canada’s prosperity, national security, economic security, national defence and national autonomy by ensuring that projects that are in the national interest and projects of an eligible type within a region of national interest are advanced through an accelerated [more]

Madam Speaker, the question is whether we can do both. Can we walk and chew gum? We need to do both. The fact is that we need to provide clean alternatives within the system as we proceed. There is a demand. We have the resources. Canada's prosperity is dependent upon its ability to provide some of our critical minerals, including fuel and energy from the tar sands. We are already a huge [more]

C-39 Mr. Speaker, Bill, the building Canada strong act, would put forward important legislative changes that build on our government's efforts to protect Canada's economic future by reducing the regulatory burden faced by the Canadian transportation sector. Last year, the House passed the Building Canada Act, which focused on accelerating the development of projects of national interest and [more]

Madam Speaker, the point is well taken. The government has a responsibility, a duty and an obligation to Canadians to think beyond election cycles. Short-sightedness is not what is going to make what the Canadian future requires. We have to look long-term. We need to make these investments for the benefit of Canadians and our prosperity. At the same time, we can provide relief in transition to [more]

C-38 Mr. Speaker, I appreciate your allowing me to speak to Bill, the Canadian fuel affordability act. While Canada is starting from a position of strength, the global economy is becoming increasingly uncertain. New and unjustified tariffs, trade tensions, and conflicts in the Middle East and Europe are driving up costs for households and businesses and are creating economic uncertainty here at [more]

Mr. Speaker, during the time I was there, provincially we did quite a bit to decarbonize Ontario's reliance on coal. We became one of the lowest-emitting provinces as a result of those measures. We tried to do everything we could to modernize that system, which was expensive but long-term and has great benefits to the overall costs and to the climate. We were trying to make our green energy [more]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the parliamentary secretary's initiative around looking at this as a wholesome package. C-38 Billis only a portion of the work that is being done by the government to lower overall costs and improve affordability measures for Canadians, including introducing the Canada groceries and essentials benefit, cutting taxes for 22 million Canadians, providing and eliminating [more]

Mr. Speaker, the hon. member makes reference to excise taxes in other parts of the world. Most European countries, which is where I was, actually do have excise taxes on their fuel. In fact, fuel was much more expensive than it is here at home in Canada. More importantly than that, the countries I was in were also harnessing renewable energy. They are at the forefront of some of the most critical [more]