House of Commons Debates VOLUME 146 Ï NUMBER 246 Ï 1st SESSION Ï 41st PARLIAMENT OFFICIAL REPORT (HANSARD) Friday, May 3, 2013 Speaker: The Honourable Andrew Scheer CONTENTS (Table of Contents appears at back of this issue.) 16259 HOUSE OF COMMONS Friday, May 3, 2013 The House met at 10 a.m. manufacturing base that produces leading-edge equipment. For Canada, such a strategy can generate high value exports and support high paying jobs for Canadians. Prayers A key opportunity for doing so is by targeting the $49 billion in industrial and regional benefits obligations that foreign companies GOVERNMENT ORDERS are expected to accumulate by 2027 to support high skill and high Ï (1005) value opportunities and jobs in Canadian industries. These opportunities would be selected based on the needs of the Canadian [English] Armed Forces, the potential to access global markets and the ECONOMIC ACTION PLAN 2013 ACT, NO. 1 potential for increasing investments in Canadian research and innovation. Our government would work with industry sectors and The House resumed from May 2 consideration of the motion that stakeholders, such as the Canadian Association of Defence and Bill C-60, An Act to implement certain provisions of the budget Security Industries, to identify areas of Canadian competitiveness tabled in Parliament on March 21, 2013 and other measures, be read and trends in global supply and demand in defence-related the second time and referred to a committee, and of the amendment. industries. Hon. Laurie Hawn (Edmonton Centre, CPC): Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased to rise today to speak about Canada's economic action plan 2013, which would continue to deliver results for Further, we would ensure that major procurements include a plan Canadians, keep us in the lead among G7 nations and keep Canada for participation by Canadian industry prior to approving the project. on track to return to balanced budgets by 2015. We would develop a refined set of key industrial capabilities for use One of the ways that we would accomplish that is by creating jobs over the long term, and examine how existing policies and programs by building equipment for the Canadian Armed Forces in Canada. can be tailored to support a government-wide strategy, while We owe it to our men and women in uniform to give them the best remaining cognizant of Canada's international trade obligations. equipment possible to fulfill the demands we place on them and to bring them home safely. We owe it to Canadian industry to give it the opportunity to play a major role in that process and develop a In parallel, the government would reform the current procurement stronger manufacturing base with the capacity for leading-edge process to improve outcomes. This would include thorough and technology and innovation. Finally, we owe it to Canadian taxpayers rigorous options analyses, a challenge function for military to ensure that their dollars are spent for the maximum benefit of requirements, early and frequent industry involvement, and Canada in all respects. strengthened oversight with the use of third-party expertise. Building on the success of the national shipbuilding procurement strategy, the government would better ensure that purchases of military equipment create economic opportunities for Canadians by Canada has many success stories to tell in using the purchase of developing key domestic investment capabilities to help guide equipment for the Canadian Armed Forces to create jobs and procurement, by promoting export opportunities and by reforming economic growth in Canada. the current procurement process to improve outcomes. The recently released Jenkins Report frames the unique once-in-a- century opportunity presented by major investments in Canada's CAP Inc. sells its products and services to over 190 countries and Armed Forces to create jobs and economic growth, while enhancing employs more than 8,000 people. CAE is the world leader in Canada's ability to defend its sovereignty. simulation equipment, commercial aviation training, helicopter aviation training, military virtual air training and health care Many highly industrialized countries have clear strategies to simulation technology. I had the pleasure of using CAE products promote their defence sectors, based on a recognition that it is in the for many years in one of my previous lives and I can attest to their national interests to have a strong domestic defence-related excellence. 16260 COMMONS DEBATES May 3, 2013 Government Orders General Dynamics Land Systems Canada , or GDLS, based in Since its launch in 2007, SADI has authorized $826 million in London and Edmonton, is a world leader in the design, manufacture assistance to 25 projects, of which $411 million has been disbursed and support of wheeled light armoured vehicles, or LAVs. It is a to date. Two examples of Alberta-based companies supported by multi-billion dollar firm with over 2,300 highly skilled employees. SADI are SemBioSys Genetics Inc. and AeroMechanical Services As a result of procurements and related support from the Ltd. government, GDLS Canada has generated direct sales of light armoured vehicles in excess of $17 billion over the past 35 years. It has created approximately 500,000 person years of employment in We will continue to provide stable funding for SADI, close to $1 Canada and established a supplier base of over 400 Canadian billion over five years, and will review the programs, administration companies, located in every province. and operation over the coming year to ensure that it continues to Recently, I had the pleasure of attending the rollout in Edmonton respond to the needs of this dynamic sector. of the first of the LAV III upgrades. Having ridden around Afghanistan a few times in its predecessor, I know that the upgrades will be welcomed by our soldiers. Economic action plan 2013 would provide $110 million over four The $35 billion national shipbuilding procurement strategy, years beginning in 2014-15, and $55 million per year on an ongoing announced in 2010, means jobs and economic growth for the basis thereafter for the creation of an aerospace technology country, stability for the industry and vital equipment for the men demonstration program. This program would support large-scale and women of the Royal Canadian Navy and Canadian Coast Guard. technology projects that exhibit strong commercialization potential Over the next 30 years, it is estimated that 15,000 direct and indirect and promote collaboration among industries, including simulation jobs may result from national shipbuilding procurement strategy trials, systems integration testing and refinement activities. A projects, including skilled work in a variety of sectors. component of the program would support research costs at post- secondary institutions that serve wider industry needs. As recom- Through this process, our government is helping small and mended by the Aerospace Review, a portion of these resources, medium-sized enterprises to participate in global supply chains that rising to $20 million annually, would be reallocated from the will result from these projects, creating growth and jobs throughout strategic aerospace and defence initiative. the country. A good example of that would be the supply of landing gear assemblies on about 4,000 F-35s by Héroux-Devtek of Longueuil, Quebec. We will also launch consultations in the coming months regarding The Government of Canada acts as a first user of pre-commercial the creation of a national aerospace research and technology network innovations through the Canadian innovation commercialization to be led by Industry Canada in collaboration with relevant program, or CICP. Through CICP, federal departments test stakeholders. The network will engage stakeholders and industry, prototypes developed by Canadian businesses and provide feedback post-secondary institutions and government laboratories to identify to help improve these innovative products before they are marketed strategic technology areas and encourage collaboration in research to customers. This program is particularly useful for small and and development. medium-sized enterprises, which often find it difficult to find the resources to bring innovative products to market. Participating companies have been strongly supportive of CICP The motto of the Royal Canadian Air Force is per ardua ad astra, since it was launched in 2010, and our government will officially “through adversity to the stars”. It is not just within our atmosphere launch the military component of the program in the near future. that economic action plan 2013 will have effect. Canada's aerospace sector is a global technology leader and a major source of high quality jobs, directly employing 66,000 people across Canada. It is among the most research-intensive industries in Canada's space industry is a sophisticated research and innovation the country. leader, successfully turning investments in knowledge into a global advantage in several niche areas, including robotics and satellite The hon. David Emerson, head of the Aerospace Review, communications. Canada's space capabilities will be showcased delivered his final report to the Minister of Industry on November through the ongoing development of the RADARSAT Constellation 29, 2012. The report detailed a series of recommendations aimed at Mission for which a $706-million satellite construction contract has strengthening the aerospace and space sectors in Canada. Our recently been signed with MacDonald, Dettwiler and Associates.