Remarks at the Chambre de commerce et d’industrie de Québec by Liberal Party of Canada Leader Justin Trudeau

October 15, 2014

“Building the Country We Want”

I believe that this is an important time for Quebec, and that an exciting chapter is beginning.

So I would like to offer Quebecers a new plan, a new vision.

I have spent a great deal of time in the various regions of Quebec since being elected Leader. I have met thousands of people. I have taken the time to listen closely to them.

Too many Quebecers have told me that they are anxious. For the first time in our history – certainly since the Quiet Revolution— people have the impression that the next generation is going to struggle more than their generation. The gains made over the past fifty years – growing income, pensions when we retire, a social safety net that ensures that the less fortunate will not become second class citizens – are no longer secure.

Whether I’m on a wharf in the Gaspé, at a rodeo in the Mauricie region, on a farm in the Laurentians or in a café in Montreal or Quebec City, Quebecers tell me the same thing: they are worried about the future.

I can assure you that such uncertainty is not unique to Quebec. It is widespread across the country. Everywhere. Yes, even in the West.

The plan I want to propose to Quebecers therefore extends beyond Quebec’s borders.

It’s a Canadian plan in which Quebecers can – and must – play an important role.

If there’s a place in Canada where people understand that we have a collective responsibility toward one another, it’s right here in Quebec.

So I want to talk to you about three major areas where Quebecers will play an instrumental role in the Canada of the 21st century.

The first is the economy. It involves ensuring that those generations that come after us will have the same opportunities as the generations that came before us.

The reason Canada has been able to prosper since the Second World War is largely due to the economic strength of our middle class. But we’re seeing now that we can no longer take this reality for granted.

Government does not create jobs, but it can create the right conditions for investment and economic prosperity. And it has an essential role to play in helping to create opportunities and ensure equality of opportunity for all citizens.

Some would have us believe that everything is fine, emphasizing that we’re in a better position than certain countries in Europe. But look around you. You know very well that everything is not rosy.

We know that the middle class is struggling and that it’s heavily in debt. We know that young people, even the most educated, are not able to find jobs that match their talents and aspirations. We know that most families will not have enough savings for their retirement. We can see that the rich are getting richer, and that more and more people are falling to the bottom.

The core of Canada’s social contract has always been that our hard work will ensure not only our success, but also the future of our children and grandchildren.

That contract is in jeopardy.

We must invest if we want to make sure it survives.

Invest to create economic opportunities for all Canadians.
It’s time for us to have infrastructure worthy of a 21st century country. I know that in the Quebec City area, there is a desperate need for infrastructure and investment that will create quality jobs now, and also ensure economic growth in the future. We must invest in education so we have an educated population and qualified workers.

We must help our small and medium sized businesses access world markets. Innovation must be encouraged to make Canada a leader in energy, green technologies, and knowledge based economies. We must support our cultural industry in Quebec and elsewhere in Canada, as it creates economic wealth and enriches our identity.

We need a government that is prepared to invest in our future in a responsible and disciplined way, while respecting the environment and listening to our communities.

To make these changes, Canada needs Quebecers.

The second priority is the quality of our democracy.

Quebec is one of the most democratic societies.

I do not say this lightly. I strongly believe it. And it’s one of the things that makes me the most proud of being a Quebecer.

The recent debate on the dying with dignity bill in the National Assembly was a great moment for democracy. Members rose above partisanship and debated a difficult moral issue respectfully.

Since taking office, Mr. Harper has shown little respect for our democratic institutions. He has manipulated the facts, undermined the credibility of our scientists, stifled dissent, and turned our Parliament into an institution in which Canadians no longer recognize themselves. For Stephen Harper, increasing Canadian’s cynicism has become an effective political strategy.

As you can well imagine, I have a completely different approach. Not only must we ensure that Canadians trust their elected officials, but as elected officials, we must demonstrate that we trust our fellow Canadians.

I believe it’s time to change our electoral system and adopt preferential voting. I have acted to remove partisanship and political favouritism from the Senate. I want to reform our Parliament with more free votes in order to have informed and rigorous debates, and to create an Access to Information system that is worthy of a government in the 21st century.

Fundamentally, I want to change the way that politics work in this country.

I want to govern in the best interests of everyone – for future generations and not just for the next set of elections. I want to be the Prime Minister of all Canadians, not just of those in the regions that voted for my party.

I want to see our democratic discussions take place in an atmosphere of respect for everyone’s opinions. I want to live in a country where all citizens feel they have a contribution to make. I want to encourage an inclusive, respective political culture.

A Prime Minister must trust Canadians. He must demonstrate transparency, and the ability to listen and to hear. He must answer reporters’ questions. That too is democracy.

The press plays an essential role in a democracy: it informs citizens and interprets the issues before us. The foundation of all democracies is interested and informed citizens.

Let’s use CBC/Radio-Canada, as an example. It is an essential public institution building ties between all regions of the country in both official languages. Rather than cutting its services, we need to invest and make this institution even stronger. In a country as vast and diverse as ours, it has become crucial to the quality of our democratic life.

To make these changes, Canada needs Quebecers.

The third area I want to talk about is promoting our strengths and our values, as Quebecers, here in Canada and around the world.

We live in a federation. We must constantly come back to the federal idea – the idea that we must work together, respecting our differences, to achieve our common goals. But to do that, we have to invest, we Quebecers, to again become active partners in the Canadian federation.

The challenges Canada faces cannot be solved by Ottawa alone. They require a true partnership between the federal government and the provinces; a federal vision that respects provincial jurisdictions. This will require a continuous, open dialogue. This is why as Prime Minister I would convene yearly first ministers conferences.

Given the unique nature of Quebec society, the Government of Quebec has particular responsibilities. If my party comes to power, Quebecers can be confident that my government will respect that and will do everything to support and promote French and Quebec culture, in Canada and abroad. It is part of who we are as Canadians.

The people of Quebec regularly tell me that it is not enough to just get rid of the Harper government. They do not simply want a different government; they want a better government. A government that reflects their values, their hopes and their aspirations. A government with strong Quebecers at the table where decisions are made.

We are a country that is fundamentally open to the world. Our economic prosperity and our quality of life depend on it. We once played a key role in international organizations. Today, no one is interested in what Canada thinks. Mr. Harper does not seem to understand that it does no good to shout into the microphone if there is no one in the room, but that is exactly what we witnessed a few weeks ago when he spoke at the United Nations. We have become marginalized and impotent on the world stage.

We have to play a constructive role by re engaging and using as an example how we have turned our differences into strengths, not weaknesses.

We also have a responsibility, a moral obligation, to act on the issue of climate change. Sitting by and watching only serves to undermine our status in the world and our economic prosperity.

I know that Quebec no longer sees itself in the image that Canada projects abroad.

To change that, Canada needs Quebecers.

Federal elections will be held within a year.

The Conservative Party will propose shrinking the federal government with ideological tax cuts. At the same time, it will increase inequities and serve only the interests of the most fortunate.

We Quebecers, we know that this will not make things better for us. We know that we need a strong team of Quebecers at the heart of the federal government.

My party, the Liberal Party, will propose investing in our collective future, in the prosperity of our middle class, in our quality of life, and, especially, in our future generations.

We all have reasons to be optimistic about the future. We, the people of Quebec, are builders. Let’s work together so that our contribution to Canada is the best we have to offer. And let’s make sure that we bequeath to our children a country of which we will be proud.

Thank you.

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