Ottawa, ON – Dan Mazier, Conservative Shadow Minister for Government Transformation, Public Works and Procurement, Shuvaloy Majumdar, Conservative Shadow Minister for Canada-United States Relations, and Ned Kuruc, Conservative Member of Parliament for Hamilton East—Stoney Creek, released the following statement on the Liberals not buying Canadian:
“Since the budget last fall, Mark Carney has been telling Canadians time and time again that his government is responding to American tariffs by ‘diversifying our trading relationships abroad’ and becoming ‘our own best customer.’ Now it’s been revealed that Carney’s government is becoming America’s best customer, with contracts to US-controlled companies increasing from 20 per cent to 31 per cent since he took office.
“In fact, of the 10 companies receiving the largest federal contracts, the Liberals awarded six to American-domiciled companies. Increasing Canada’s reliance on American suppliers and handing them $7.8 billion in contracts in his first 16 months is not what Mr. Carney promised to Canadians.
“Nor does using Chinese steel in the second largest private investment in Canada after announcing a policy of ‘using more Canadian steel’ for projects under the Major Project Office. Yet, that’s exactly what’s happening with LNG Canada Phase II, at the exact time when Canadian steelworkers – such as the 350 recently laid off at Hamilton – are suffering the most.
“Now, the Canadian Institute of Steel Construction (CISC) is pushing back on LNG Canada and the Carney government’s claims that Canadian steelworkers couldn’t do the job, stating they ‘are confident that Canadian fabricators can deliver a substantial portion of the work, including the modules required for Phase 2.’
“This is not the first time the Institute has criticized the government’s flippant attitude towards LNG Canada’s use of Chinese steel. All the way back in 2018, the CISC president said it was ‘shocking that the Canadian government would be so willing to allow and encourage the use of illegally dumped and subsidized fabricated steel’ in Phase I.
“If Mr. Carney wants to buy Canadian, he can start by making it cheaper to build Canadian. This includes repealing the costly industrial carbon tax that forces our industry to pay more, while Beijing exploits weak labour and environmental standards to produce artificially cheap steel. Making it cheaper to produce in Canada will incentivize developing and maintaining the advanced industrial capabilities we need to create jobs.
“Our steel industry supports over 100,000 jobs across the economy, and the sector deserves a government that will fight for them. The Prime Minister promised to use more Canadian steel in ventures under the Major Project Office. But when push came to shove, he failed to secure any commitments for LNG Canada’s Phase II expansion.
“This is unacceptable, and our industry leaders know it. Conservatives will always fight to save Canadian jobs from unfair foreign competition and unleash our economy with fast permits and low taxes to deliver an affordable, safe and independent country.”