Senator Cardozo: Welcome, ministers. My question is about labour mobility and the recognition of workers’ credentials. Are you expecting to have more mutual recognition between provinces of credentials, or do you foresee a standardization of certification?

I ask that in the context that this is a federal law. Are there limitations on what you can do? Is this more of a symbolic act, and you’re trying to set the table for what you expect the provinces to do — if I can use the Prime Minister’s term — to “catalyze” action in this area?

Mr. LeBlanc: Senator Cardozo, your question is a good one. Nothing in this legislation impacts the jurisdiction of provinces and territories. I think that’s also a fundamental thing that goes without saying, but we should say it so there is no ambiguity in that regard. The example you properly used — and I know you yourself studied this issue in a policy context — mutual recognition, in many of the examples that Canadians think about, is properly in the hands of provinces and territories.

Not to duck the question — I’m happy to answer it — but in her fulsome answers yesterday, I’m sure that my colleague Chrystia Freeland, who has the carriage of the responsibility has been drilling down with provinces and territories on this issue of mutual recognition. We wanted to start by bringing the Government of Canada to the conversation with the cleanest hands possible. For example, the deputy clerk and I, before we came here, were talking about how if you’re a land surveyor in the province of New Brunswick. Chrystia used this example yesterday, so Chris Fox is cheating and giving it to two of us. There are examples where the Government of Canada had regulatory requirements that don’t make sense and were, in fact, barriers to labour mobility. If a land surveyor in our province of New Brunswick is working on a military base or doing a project under federal jurisdiction, or if they’re a certified land surveyor in Nova Scotia, I’d be quite happy to see them working on a project in Manitoba. There are other examples.

I want to be careful because the Government of Canada is not playing Big Brother in a patronizing way to the provinces. The provinces are themselves leading by example in this area. The provinces are coming together with one another and in small regional groups and saying, “We’re prepared.” The Province of Alberta has been a leader in this space. Former premier Jason Kenney was doing great work, as was former Premier Pallister of Manitoba. Some former premiers have been leading this conversation. The Premier of Nova Scotia has been a great leader in this regard, in terms of asking their first minister colleagues, “How can we collectively do that work?”

The Government of Canada wants to enable it in the sense that we don’t have federal barriers. “Catalyze” is a good word, but I’m encouraged by their desire to do that work themselves in a very effective way.

Senator Cardozo: Minister, on behalf of your citizens, you’re also the lead minister in terms of Canada-U.S. relations. Do you see this act as arming ourselves against the United States, or is it separate because of the tariff threats and we’re putting our house in order in a different way because we can’t trust that we can work with them anymore?

Mr. LeBlanc: Yes. “Arming ourselves” against the United States is not the phrase I would have used. You used that phrase, senator, but I take your point entirely.

We think that this legislation is part of Canada’s response to the economic uncertainty created by President Trump’s tariffs. I exchanged messages with Premier Ford today. Imagine what it means for the steel industry in his province and right across the country. That economic uncertainty is affecting workers and businesses in an acute way every day, and in some sectors it’s becoming worse day by day.

This is part of a united Canada’s response to give ourselves the economic instruments to grow our economy, diversify our trade and inspire Canadians to build big nation projects that are in the national interests. It’s part of an answer, but Canadians are coming up with all kinds of very inspiring ways to meet the challenge of having an unreliable trading partner with the United States. This is our government’s clearly stated objective in the election campaign as part of the response, but we continue to look at other ways to make the economy more resilient.

I wouldn’t want to cut off Senator Cuzner’s time. I know everybody has been looking forward to that, so I’ll stop speaking now and let Rodger have a run.