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Decentralized Democracy

House Hansard - 75

44th Parl. 1st Sess.
May 19, 2022 10:00AM
Context: House Hansard - 75 - May/19/22
The Deputy Chair
  • May/19/22 9:06:37 p.m.
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There is no time left. Resuming debate, the hon. member for South Surrey—White Rock.
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Hon. Kerry-Lynne Findlay (South Surrey—White Rock, CPC)
  • May/19/22 9:06:44 p.m.
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Madam Chair, the government has named the F-35 the successful bidder for the future fighter requirement. The minister, on CTV's Question Period on Sunday, April 3, 2022, said, “At the end of the day, when this contract is signed, there will be guaranteed industrial benefits.” Does the minister still say that this is correct?
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Hon. Filomena Tassi (Minister of Public Services and Procurement, Lib.)
  • May/19/22 9:07:12 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I am happy to say that in this strong procurement process, which was rigorous and competitive, we gave the highest weighting to economic benefits, and we are very pleased that we were able to do that, because we want to ensure that Canadians, of course, are benefiting from this.
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Hon. Kerry-Lynne Findlay
  • May/19/22 9:07:25 p.m.
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Madam Chair, Bagotville and Cold Lake cannot prepare for the F-35, because there has been no contract signed. When will the F-35 contract be signed?
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Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 9:07:37 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I am very pleased to say that we are in the finalization stage, and we expect the contract to be signed before the end of this year.
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Hon. Kerry-Lynne Findlay
  • May/19/22 9:07:47 p.m.
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Minister, we know that Lockheed was allowed to bid after the government changed existing ITB rules requiring 100% offsets. Innovation, Science and Economic Development decided to allow F-35 to submit a best-efforts ITB proposal that would be negatively scored, because it was unable to guarantee benefits. Does the minister agree with that?
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The Deputy Chair
  • May/19/22 9:08:12 p.m.
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The hon. member should address all questions and comments to the Chair please. The hon. minister.
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Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 9:08:17 p.m.
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Madam Chair, what I agree with is the heavy weighting that was given to economic benefits. I think that this was very important, and there are procedures in the process that are set up in order to ensure that those economic benefits are honoured.
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Hon. Kerry-Lynne Findlay
  • May/19/22 9:08:32 p.m.
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Madam Chair, the minister knows that, as a member of the consortium, Canada gets the F-35 at the same price as the United States in the year of purchase. Can she confirm that is correct?
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Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 9:08:46 p.m.
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Madam Chair, we are in the negotiation phase. We are very pleased that the process was competitive, and we know that we are going to get the best price based on a competitive process.
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Hon. Kerry-Lynne Findlay
  • May/19/22 9:08:58 p.m.
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Madam Chair, as I just stated, that is already set as part of the consortium agreement. Does the minister actually suggest that somehow Canada is going to be able to have a different process than the others in the consortium when it comes to price?
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Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 9:09:16 p.m.
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Madam Chair, what is being worked out right now are the details of that process so that, in this finalization stage, those intricate details are being written to sign a contract so that we know exactly what we are receiving.
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Hon. Kerry-Lynne Findlay
  • May/19/22 9:09:34 p.m.
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Madam Chair, can the minister confirm that Canada is purchasing a block of F-35 fight planes from the scrapped Turkish purchase of Block 3 aircraft while the latest model, the Block 4, is unavailable; in other words, a less capable fighter?
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Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 9:09:52 p.m.
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Madam Chair, one of the advantages with this process is that we are getting the latest and greatest plane. We are delighted that, in this procurement and in this investment that we are making, we will be getting the latest and greatest F-35.
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Hon. Kerry-Lynne Findlay
  • May/19/22 9:10:08 p.m.
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Madam Chair, some $15 billion in defence spending was included in the budget but not declared or attached to anything. Can the minister tell us why, and what is that for?
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Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 9:10:23 p.m.
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Madam Chair, that is a question for defence. Defence is looking at what its needs are, and we look forward to the department asking us, as procurement, to fulfill those needs.
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Hon. Kerry-Lynne Findlay
  • May/19/22 9:10:35 p.m.
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Madam Chair, that is a non-answer. The government's future surface combatant program has grown in cost from $60 billion to an estimated $100 billion. Has the government given any thought to an off-the-shelf, foreign purchase?
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Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 9:10:50 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I strongly support the national shipbuilding strategy. We are creating jobs here in Canada. I had the opportunity to visit one of the shipyards, and I can tell the member that the work being done there by Canadians is absolutely phenomenal.
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Hon. Kerry-Lynne Findlay
  • May/19/22 9:11:06 p.m.
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Madam Chair, does the minister know that those ship designs have gone from 5,000 tonnes to 10,000 tonnes?
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Hon. Filomena Tassi
  • May/19/22 9:11:15 p.m.
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Madam Chair, I know that there have been amendments, yes.
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