My apologies for that, Mr. Speaker.

Just to remind everyone, as everyone is fully aware, earlier this week, the Prime Minister had robust discussions with premiers and made the pledge to remove all federal barriers to internal trade and labour mobility in the coming weeks, prior to the celebration of Canada Day this summer.

We are also focused on building commercial corridors and building projects of national significance that will fortify the ties that bind us together as a country, will deepen our ties with the world and will create high-paying jobs for Canadians. We must build on a scale and at a pace like never before. Critically, we are committed to doubling the rate of homebuilding by establishing “build Canada homes” that would ensure we tap into Canadian technology, Canadian skilled workers and, of course, Canadian lumber.

Another significant portion of the Speech from the Throne was devoted to recalibrating our economic and security relationship with the U.S. and on forging stronger partnerships with other countries in the world. As the members are aware, our government is fully engaged in intensive negotiations with our neighbours to the south, but we are also focused on engaging with the rest of the world. Within days of becoming Prime Minister, the new Prime Minister visited London and Paris. It was also announced within days of the Prime Minister being sworn in that Canada was partnering with Australia on a $6-billion Arctic radar.

We are keen to join ReArm Europe, which would provide us access to new opportunities in Europe's over trillion-dollar defence marketplace. As our Minister of Defence recently declared, Canada is ready to take immediate and decisive action to boost our military preparedness. Indeed, very soon we can expect to see a tripling of military spending from 2014 levels.

All that is to say, our government fully appreciates that Canadians expect us to stand up for our interests and to do so with great energy and as expeditiously as possible, and that is exactly what our government will deliver. Rest assured, we will be ambitious and we will be bold.

Ali Ehsassi

$423,542.00